VOLUME 10 ISSUE 23

VOLUME 10 - No. 23

JUNE 28TH – JULY 5TH, 2014

Website: www.suntci.com

Email: sun@suntci.com

Tel: (649) 946-8542

PAYROLL TAX IN LIMBO

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www.facebook.com/tcisun

Fax: (649) 941-3281

Government considers amendments to Payroll Tax bill Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson

Opposition Leader says controversial tax was going to die in Parliament

by Vivian Tyson The opposition People’s Democratic Movement is asserting that there were enough votes in the House on Monday (June 23, 2014) to kill the proposed Payroll Tax bill that government is seeking to push through, which could be the reason government abruptly ended proceedings.

“Whilst we do not know the Government’s plan whether they will allow the bill to go to a vote or withdraw the bill, we do know that there were 10

persons present who were voting NO. Even if all members from the Government were to collectively vote yes, there were sufficient NOs to kill the Bill.

“We count this as a victory for the people of the Islands. We are awaiting the alternatives that the Minister of Finance made mentioned that he had been working on in the event that the Bill was unsuccessful,” Cartwright-Robinson said.

Cartwright-Robinson lashed out at Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing for abruptly adjourning the House Sine Die, while there were many items on the

agenda to discuss.

“We are disappointed but not surprised that the Premier continues to display such immature behavior continuing to adjourn the House with items on the Agenda and wasting the tax payers’ monies. There have been two motions on the agenda for several months relating to crime fighting and marine products, another two motions for less time but for two and three agendas respectively on minimum wage and Business Licenses,” she said.

Continued on Page 2

The controversial payroll tax bill, which government is trying to push through into law could return to the House with some amendments, according to Finance Minister Hon. Washington Misick during an interview with The SUN this week.

The bill had its first and second readings followed by debate in The House on Monday (June 23, 2014), but before a vote could be cast, Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing called for an adjournment.

Such decision has left many in the public wondering what’s next for the bill.

There have been speculations that government would not bring back the bill to the House because it does not have much confidence in it passing, and so, would seek to replace it with an alternative, which Finance Minister Hon. Washington Misick made reference to recently.

Continued on Page 2

BAND BOYZ NAMED BAND OF THE YEAR Islandcom’s Battle of the Bands competition was the event of the summer!

The Turtle Cove Marina overflowed with concertgoers for the free event on Saturday, June 21st.

Six bands competed for the top spots but after the judge’s deliberation and all numbers were calculated the winners for all categories were clearly established. In third place winning $1,000 was Gar land Band. In second place, winning $2,500 and 6 months of Islandcom service was Island Boys and taking home the grand prize of $5,000, a year of service from Islandcom, the People’s Choice Award for $1000 and the chance to record a song with Producers Keno and Kazz was the Band Boyz, pictured at left.

There were also a few special awards won by individuals. Best Showmanship went to Whitfield Robinson from Island Boys; Best Vocalist went to Kacey Lewis of Band Boyz, and Breakout Musician went to Sherlock Joseph of Band Boyz.

PLEASE SEE PAGES 24 &25 FOR FULL COVERAGE.

TCI named for sex trafficking, forced labour – Page 7

John Smith dismisses malicious rumours – Page 8

Speaker distances self from House media ban – Page 10

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Payroll tax in limbo

Continued from Page 1

She added: “A number of questions are also included which were brought forward from previous meetings. The people’s business is left unattended and the people’s monies are being wasted.

Being asked in this climate to support taxes when the best fiscal prudence is not being practiced in the clear view of the public seems reckless to us and we may be deemed to be behaving as we see the government’s actions to be.”

House Speaker Hon. Robert Hall also came in for some level of bruising from the opposition leader, who accused him of stymieing private members motions.

“The Speaker has a role to play but he continues to allow for private members’ business to be left unattended. We have written to the Speaker on many areas of concern over the past year and have not had the benefit of a response.

“Only last week did we write a four-

page letter to the Speaker about areas of concern and we have not had the benefit of an acknowledgment. We will now take this matter to the next step to ensure that the people’s House is properly managed and that all voices are respected,” she said.

In the meantime, CartwrightRobinson said that the opposition will await the alternative that government said it has as a back-up in case the House voted against the Payroll Tax bill,

Payroll Tax TCI best revenue measure – Finance Minister Finance Minister Hon. Washington Misick has again driven the point that payroll tax is the best government revenue collection option for the Turks and Caicos Islands when matched up against property tax and Value Added Tax – the two other income-generating measures that are being proposed in the public’s sphere.

Arguing passionately for the tax in the House of Assembly on Monday (June 23, 2014) the finance Minister reiterated his stance on the tax, saying that it is progressive revenue measure, when sized up against the other two.

Arguing against property tax, the finance minister explained that it would cause a great deal of problems for both government and landowners.

“Does property tax sounds better? I think not.

Do we really want to tax people’s homes, generational properties and inheritance?

A Levy on property, whether developed or not, is paid by the owner of the property, and is usually based on the appraised value of the property. Also, effective administration of property tax requires the presence of a robust land registry to specifically identify land parcels; the lawful owners of the property must also be clearly identified and aware of their responsibility,” he said.

The Minister added: “So clearly, the introduction of property tax in the Turks and Caicos Islands would require the development of a property tax registry.

Further, a property tax appraisal would be required for all properties to subject to this tax before any assessment could be levied.”

“This would require substantial investment and capacity building both in terms of human and capital at the land registry, this would take a long time before you can implement it. Actually there is an issue

saying also that the opposition stands ready to assist the administration on other revenue-raising measures.

She said that the opposition will be presenting an economic plan to government in the coming days.

“We remain prepared to assisting wherever allowed to address the challenges we face. We will announce shortly the date as to when the full details of the plan presented to the government will be released,” she said.

Government considers amendments to Payroll Tax bill Continued from Page 1

poor people are not left in the Queried about the future of the ditch,” he said. bill, the finance minister said that The minister further government is hoping to bring it back stated: “If you want to to the House, but are considering introduce a Retail Sales making some amendments. He did not Tax at the moment, your say how many amendments and what mortgage will go up, the food those amendments might be. at the supermarket will go “The bill has seen its second reading, up, it will harm the little so we are taking it back to the House man more. This bill (Payroll for it to have its third reading and Tax) is designed to make then we will take it from there. We sure that the little man does are considering some amendments not fall and stay in the ditch.” to it, I can’t say at this time what He said that given the amendments we will be making, but fact that the TCI is a service over the next few days, we plan to see economy where everything what amendments can be made to it is imported, the only before we take it back,” the minister potentially effective form of said.

GST would be a retail sales The minister had told the media and services tax – RST – recently that government was looking which he said would also be at alternatives to the bill in the event bad for the country. it did not make it through the Houses.

“This would have a Asked whether or not government has cascading effect. What do I finalized the possible alternatives, the mean by that? It means that minister said that they were still being if you are paying customs worked on and could not reveal what duty at the port, for example, shape or form those alternatives might and that stuff is delivered take. at your store, you are again “At this time, I could not say what paying the retail sales tax on the alternatives might be, because we Finance Minister Hon. Washington Misick that tin of whatever you are are still in the early phase. But we will buying. be taking the bill back to the House “So you are penalizing when it reconvenes to have further as to whether the most Services Tax is a sales tax expensive properties in this applied to all goods and the consumer over and over debate and we believe that it will pass,” country would be subjected services sold in a jurisdiction again. A retail sales tax, the finance minister said. to that tax because of that is not specifically unlike Value Added Tax, The Dr. Rufus Ewing-led governdevelopment agreements exempted. The two types of would not have a refund ment has said that it has pursued a and orders that were signed GST or either Value Added mechanism, so that tax paid number of tax revenue measures and by governments in the past. Tax or Retail Sales Tax, would be passed onto the concluded that payroll tax is the best “Was the first development sometimes referred to as consumer in any multistage option. Other revenue streams they in this country started in RST. That is a tax levied on transaction,” he said. examined were property tax and Value The minister also noted Added Tax, the latter which was pro2006? I don’t think so. We each stage in the production have project that had been of good or service that result that in order for GST to posed by the Interim Administration, developed over the last 20 – into value being added to the be successful, there needs led at the time by former governor Ric to be a clear paper trail to Todd. Both the government and opposi30 years that had benefited product. from tax exemption under “All of the taxes are paid ascertain taxpayers’ liability. tion saw Value Added Tax was vitriolic the Encouragement of by the customer at the end This he said would require to consumers, and to that end, joined Development Ordinance. of the line. That, from this a high level of book-keeping, forces to defeat it.

And so, unfortunately there point of view, is regressive by the businesses, which The government has argued are people in these islands and unduly harms poor would also be subjected vociferously that that there has to be who support property tax. people, who, as a rule, spend to periodic audits by the a replacement revenue stream in the But property tax would more of their discretionary revenue department. stead of Value Added Tax, which the He said too, that there British Government has given the nod hurt the Turks and Caicos income on necessary items.

Islands people more than “They are obliged to go to are underlying issues with to be taken off the table, but not out of it would hurt anyone else, the (local) store, they don’t General Sales Tax, which the room. It said that of all the revenue particularly since a lot of have the money to go to include difficulties with cash streams considered, Value Added Tax what we have had been Miami buy their clothes and transactions. remains the least onerous to the Turks “This can be problematic and Caicos people. inherited in any case.” bring it back in their suit Turning to General Sales cases or bring meat back in and awkward to track, Government has argued that Tax, which is an element of chilled coolers. These are especially when it involves payroll tax will assist it to bankroll VAT, Minister Misick argued the people who are obliged unscrupulous suppliers and capital and recurrent expenditures. that it is also bad for the to go to the local stores, and vendors. GST is therefore It will also enable the administration Turks and Caicos Islands these are the people who will more likely to promote the to repay the $260 million United since it would harm people at be hurt the most – the poor. creation of an underground Kingdom guaranteed loan. The debt is the lower rungs of the ladder. And so, this bill (Payroll tax) economy,” Minister Misick to be settled by 2016.

“What is GST? General is designed to ensure that said.

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

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JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

Turks and Caicos identified as a destination for sex trafficking and forced labour

by Hayden Boyce

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour, according to the US State Department’s just-released Trafficking in Persons Report 2014.

The report quoted “local experts” as saying that “the large population of migrants from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica continue to be vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced labour, and the estimated US Secretary of State John Kerry 2,000 stateless children and adolescents in TCI are identification and protection procedures and policies, and especially at risk”.

The document added: “Local little public awareness of stakeholders, including law human trafficking continued enforcement officials, reported to hinder TCI authorities’ specific knowledge of sex ability to address trafficking.”

The report also identified trafficking occurring in bars and brothels and noted that another British Overseas trafficking-related complicity Territory, Bermuda, as a by some local government “limited destination country for women subjected to domestic officials was a problem.

“During the reporting period, servitude”.

It was noted that in a anti-trafficking legislation that included measures to previous year, a Bermudan improve identification of and woman was subjected to sex assistance for trafficking trafficking in the United victims remained in draft form. States, adding that victims “The absence of specific from the Philippines, Ecuador, legislation prohibiting Latin America, and Asia trafficking as defined by the are subjected to domestic 2000 UN TIP Protocol, the servitude in Bermuda.

“Foreign migrant workers absence of trafficking victim

are subjected to forced labour in the construction industry.

“Employers reportedly confiscate passports, withhold wages, deny benefits, and threaten migrant workers with having to repay the entire cost or the return portion of their airline tickets,” the report revealed, adding that in November 2013, the government enacted the Transnational Organized Crime Act 2013, which among other crimes, criminalizes all forms of both sex and labor trafficking.

It also prescribes penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

Migrant workers were employed in Bermuda under a strict system of government

work permits obtained by employers on behalf of foreign workers.

The State Department described The Bahamas as a destination, source, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking.

It was noted that migrant workers are especially vulnerable to involuntary servitude in The Bahamas, particularly the thousands of Haitians who arrive in The Bahamas largely voluntarily to work as domestic employees and labourers.

“Other large, vulnerable, migrant worker communities are from China, Jamaica, and the Philippines.

“There were reports during the year that some U.S. nationals who were locally employed had their movement restricted and passports taken, activities indicative of human trafficking.

“There were also some anecdotal reports that passports were taken and movement restricted among some non-migrant Chinese workers. Children born in The Bahamas to foreign-born parents do not automatically receive Bahamian citizenship and face potential discrimination and vulnerability to trafficking,” the report added.

“Economic migrants transiting through The

Tourism taxi driver Nelson Musgrove killed in crash The Providenciales Taxi fraternity has been plunged into mourning following the sudden death of one of their popular colleagues, Nelson Musgrove, who died at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre on Providenciales shortly after crashing his Chevy Suburban in a road entrance wall along the South Dock Main Road on Friday (June 20, 2014).

Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Officers on the scene said that the incident took place minutes after 5p.m. They said also said that Musgrove was heading in a westerly direction when the accident took place.

Musgrove, was alone in the vehicle when the accident took place, The SUN understands. The police said that they did not have reasons to believe there was a second vehicle involved in the accident based on their observations of the crash scene.

Police Liaison Officer Audley Astwood, said that vehicular passersby saw the crash and notified the authorities.

“An unknown male stated that there was a motor vehicle accident at the incident location above and a male was still inside of the vehicle. The complainant mentioned the need for an Ambulance. A second complainant stated that Nelson Musgrove was involved in an accident in a gold Suburban in which he was trapped and was not responding. She then stated that the male was not moving and there was gasoline leaking from the vehicle.

“She also stated that persons on scene were tried to locate a pulse on the male but they did not locate a pulse. H1705 a third complainant stated that he was passing when he saw a vehicle that had crashed into a wall and the driver was still inside of the vehicle. He then stated that an Ambulance was needed.”

Two men, who later came on the scene, ad who also expressed their shock and grief, claimed that they spoke with Musgrove minutes before he drove from the property of a renta-car company about half hour before

A truck prepares to take the ill-fated Chevy Suburban away from the crash scene. At right, a Facebook photo with Nelson Musgrove and daughter Tendra Musgrove. they learn of the crash. They said Musgrove left with a man and a woman aboard the vehicle.

While it is said that Musgrove died at the Cheshire Hall hospital, persons who were early on the scene and assisted in getting him to the Hospital, said that when found him slumped around the steering, the taxi driver appeared dead.

Bahamas were vulnerable to trafficking. Groups especially vulnerable to sex trafficking in The Bahamas include foreign citizens in prostitution or exotic dancing and local children under 18 engaging in sex with men for basic necessities such as food, transportation, or material goods; third-party prostitution of children under 18 is a form of human trafficking.”

According to the report, the Government of The Bahamas does not comply fully with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who wrote a letter in the report, stated: “We each have a responsibility to make this horrific and all-too-common crime a lot less common. And our work with victims is the key that will open the door to real change – not just on behalf of the more than 44,000 survivors who have been identified in the past year, but also for the more than 20 million victims of trafficking who have not,” he wrote.

“As Secretary of State, I’ve seen with my own two eyes countless individual acts of courage and commitment. I’ve seen how victims of this crime can become survivors and how survivors can become voices of conscience and conviction in the cause.”

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

John Smith dismisses rumours about leaving Airports Authority Smith is currently overseeing John Smith, Chief Executive date, and it’s up to the other party Officer for the Turks and Caicos to decide whether or not it wants the $10 million second phase Islands Airports Authority you to continue providing the expansion of the Providenciales (TCIAA), has referred to the service or not. My contract is up on International Airport, which is rumour that he is leaving his the 31st of December (2013) and to complete before the start of current job to join M Aviations as other people in statutory bodies the winter tourisms season. On completion, passengers will be able are in the same position. an outright and malicious lie.

“I have received confirmation to enjoy expanded check-in counter In recent days, tongues have been wagging that Smith, whose (from government) that they areas and self check in facilities, contract with the TCIAA ended are interested in me extending additional bathroom facilities, in December last year, did not get the contract. They renewed the larger retail space for shops and a new contract from government contract, so that’s where we are restaurants, and improved medical to run the quasi government at. I just don’t have anything in amenities.

The expansion should almost organization, and so he is writing as yet. And I am not the scheduled to step away from the only executive who works in the double the size of the terminal to public service with that issue,” better accommodate the 500,000 job at the end of July. passengers who pass through the When The SUN contacted Smith Smith reiterated.

Smith downplayed the airport each year. The expansion in this past week for confirmation as to whether or not he would be importance on whether or not he capacity will increase from 51,462 leaving the TCIAA, he dispelled stays and leaves the organization, square feet to 92,321 square feet.

The $40 million phase one the rumours. He explained saying that people do that all the expansion that was done about that while he does not have a time.

“People join organizations and two years ago was mainly to written contract at the moment, government has confirmed to him leave organizations all the time, lengthen the runway by 1600 feet, that it is interested in renewing so in the event that I leave the enabling it to now accommodate Turks and Caicos Islands Airports larger jets. Phase two, according his contract.

He theorized that the rumours Authority, and if they said to to Smith, is geared towards giving may have started out of the fact me that they will not renew the passengers, who pass through the facility on a daily basis the best that a new contract has not yet contract is neither here nor there.

Asked to comment specifically travel experience. M Aviation been signed between him and government. Smith said that he on the rumours, Smith asserted: is the company responsible for is not the only head of a statutory “That’s an outright malicious lie constructing the new Jet terminal body in the Turks and Caicos and a malicious rumor, and has at the Providenciales International Islands whose contract has been no merit, no merit at all. There Airport and headed by Michel expired and are awaiting renewal. are some who would like to see me Neutelings, President of the Turks “ I have a contract, and like any leave and a lot more who would and Caicos Islands Hotel and CEO of Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, John Smith.

Tourism Association. contract, this contract has a finish like for me to me stay.”

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION

WEST BAY CLUB

Pursuant to the provisions of the Registered Land Ordinance, Temple Mortgage Fund Ltd., The Temple Financial Centre, Providenciales HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that it will cause to be sold by public auction the following properties:

HOUSEKEEPER

PARCEL NO. 60809/51, 161 & 162, THE BIGHT & THOMAS STUBBS, PROVIDENCIALES: This property is 11.41 acres of vacant land located between Grace Bay Road and Leeward Highway. The subject property is zoned TO1 (Hotels, Condos and Holiday Homes) as defined by the Department of Planning in the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Registered Proprietor: Kojak TC Ltd. PARCEL NO. 60602/84, NORWAY & FIVE CAYS, PROVIDENCIALES This property comprises 0.71 acre and is strategically located off the main Airport Road. The development consists of a three-storey building containing 32 rooms, an administration office and reception area. Additionally, the property contains two separate single storey commercial buildings and a small restaurant building.

Registered Proprietor: Frances Rigby McKenzie PARCEL 60715/38, CHESHIRE HALL & RICHMOND HILL, PROVIDENCIALES This property comprises two partially complete single storey concrete buildings located on Windward Road in the Glass Shack area of Providenciales. Building #1 is an apartment building which contains two (2) 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom units. Building #2 contains 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom with an open plan kitchen and dinning area upon completion. The property is approximately 80% completed.

Registered Proprietor: Anthony O’Neil Adams The auction will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday 18th July 2014 at the offices of Temple Mortgage Corporation Ltd., Temple Financial Centre, Leeward Highway, Providenciales. Conditions of sale may be obtained from Temple Mortgage Corporation Ltd., The Temple Financial Centre, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, telephone (649) 946-5293, fax (649) 946-5289.

Interested persons may bid by way of sealed tender delivered not later than 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 17, 2014 addressed to Temple Mortgage Corporation Ltd., Temple Financial Centre, Leeward Highway, Providenciales clearly marked “AUCTION BIDJULY 18TH 2014.” Should the bid meet the reserve price and constitute the highest offer, the property will be considered sold to the person making the bid. Note that a 10% deposit is required immediately from the successful bidder at the auction.

Note that Temple Mortgage Corporation Ltd. accepts no responsibility in respect of the receipt or otherwise of sealed bids and prospective purchasers are encouraged to ensure safe delivery of sealed bids to Temple Mortgage Corporation Ltd. in good time and further to attend at the auction to ensure that the bid is properly made.

Requirements: • Ensure the cleanliness of all hotel areas • Assist in all Housekeeping responsibilities, cleaning of all guest rooms, stocking amenities and linens.

• Perform specified server duties, including food and drink orders, preparation and serving.

• Ensure inventory is used properly and in supply at all times.

• Possess knowledge of proper cleaning supplies and chemical handling • Must be fluent in written and spoken English.

Previous experience in luxury resorts preferred Qualified Belongers need only to apply Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualifications and experience

LABOURER Requirements: Operate, maintain and repair the property’s heating, Ventilation air conditioning and refrigeration systems Perform preventative maintenance on the hotel’s systems Perform laundry and kitchen services Pool cleaning, chemical testing, adding chemicals as required Maintain the proper use, cleaning, maintenance and storage of all tools Responsible for cleaning grease traps, lift stations, Checking & treatment of sewage treatment plant Qualified Belongers need only to apply Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualifications and experience

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

Energy & Utilities extends deadline for consultations on TCI draft energy policy The Energy and Utilities Department of the Ministry of Government Support Services would like to notify the public that the deadline for submission of feedback on the TCI Draft Energy Policy has been extended to July 14, 2014.

The Draft Policy establishes a roadmap and strategy for the creation of a more sustainable energy framework for the Turks and Caicos Islands by utilizing a comprehensive approach which focuses on energy efficiency and

energy conservation improvements, the incorporation of renewable energy as well as alternative fuels into the fuel mix; institutional strengthening, external collaboration, and other measures that will reduce the TCI‘s dependency on imported fossil fuels.

The overall objectives of the policy are to: • Reduce electricity costs and prices, as the absolute priority, while also • Improving energy security, and • Increasing local and global

environmental sustainability The Energy Policy, through its five core principles and series of discrete actions, aims to overcome the barriers identified to allow for the increased uptake of energy efficiency and renewable projects and programmes in the TCI. Members of the public are therefore urged to engage in the consultation process by making written representations addressed to the email TCIenergypolicy@gov.tc.

Judge allows media to publish his reasons for ordering Trial Without Jury High Court Judge Mr. Justice Paul Harrison on Tuesday changed his original reporting restrictions order and decided to allow media houses in the Turks and Caicos Islands to publicise his reasons for ordering trial without a jury, following an application to the court

by Hayden Boyce, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Turks and Caicos SUN newspaper.

On Tuesday June 24th, Boyce represented himself and The SUN newspaper before Judge Harrison, while Queen’s Counsel Andrew Mitchell appeared for the Crown and the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT).

Judge Harrison had ruled on Monday June 23rd that the media would only be allowed to carry his decision, but not the reasons why he decided not to have a jury trial for the upcoming corruption cases.

Mitchell, QC, sided with the judge, arguing that allowing the local media to publicise the reasons would adversely affect a fair trial.

On Monday afternoon, Boyce wrote to the judge expressing concern that his original ruling “strikes at the heart of the constitutional right of freedom of the press” and that it places the local media at a distinct reporting disadvantage in relation to other regional and international media houses, who were in possession of Judge Harrison’s judgment.

Boyce submitted that it is virtually impossible for such an important and historic document as the judgment on an application for Trials Without Jury to be contained and kept under seal until after the Court of Appeal meets in September, 2014.

The publisher told the judge that there is absolutely no harm in the local media printing his decision

and the reasons given, although the matter may be appealed.

“There is nothing contained (in the reasons for your decision) that would in the least injure or offend the interest of justice, as the reasons…do not contain any facts that may come before a jury for determination,” Boyce wrote.

Case laws When the matter came before Judge Harrison on Tuesday morning, in applying for limited relaxation of the reporting restrictions, Boyce quoted a few case laws including the English case of the Attorney General against Guardian Newspapers (No.2) 132, in which Lord Goff of Chieveley stated: “Although the basis of the law’s protection of confidence is that there is a public interest that confidences should be preserved and protected by the law, nevertheless, that public interest may be outweighed by some other countervailing public interest which favours disclosure…

It is this limiting principle which may require a court to carry out a balancing operation, weighing the public interest in maintaining confidence against a countervailing public interest favouring disclosure.”

After hearing legal arguments from Boyce, Queen’s Counsel Andrew Mitchell and Queen’s Counsel Courtenay Griffiths, the lawyer for former Premier Michael Misick, Judge Harrison accepted the position advanced by The SUN publisher.

The judge stated: “The Court is mindful that it instituted the reporting restriction to limit the publication of material which could have prejudiced a fair trial in this matter. However, the court has a responsibility to balance the

media’s constitutional rights of freedom of expression against the administration of justice to ensure a fair trial for all. I think there could some relaxation (of the reporting restrictions) and still preserve that fairness which the court seeks.”

Mr. Justice Harrison then ordered that the local media could publish the reasons for his decision, which are as follows: (a) the allegations of wrongdoing by prominent public figures, including politicians and their activities and interaction with members of the public throughout TCI over the years 2003 to 2009, culminating in the Auld Inquiry and Report; (b) the pre-trial media publicity, adverse to both the prosecution and the defence, consistently and relentlessly since the Commission of Enquiry Report in 2009 and up to January 2014. This could not have failed to influence adversely the minds of potential jurors in the small jurisdiction of TCI; (c) the charges are complex, allegedly comprising the payment of millions of dollars by various means and channels to various accounts and to numerous recipients. Inevitably, this will involve a heavy volume of documents, both at pretrial and at the trial, more appropriately dealt with by a judge alone; (d) the trial is estimated to last for months; this will involve dislocation of the lives of potential jurors, their impecuniousity from loss of earnings, disadvantage to employers and inconvenience. The probable delays from adjournments and time-off for jurors for various reasons, is also inevitable.

Turks and Caicos Sun Suite#5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 946-8542 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Senior Editor: Vivian Tyson Office Manager: Dominique Rigby Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd.

We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

New turtle and conch regulations to take effect on July 1st The Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) is advising the public that as of 1 July 2014, new regulations for turtle and conch under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance will take effect. The regulations include the following restrictions on the taking of turtles: • A closed season for Hawksbill turtles from 1 August to 31 March (inclusive). During the closed season it will be unlawful to take, purchase or possess hawksbill turtles or hawksbill turtle products.

• A legal size limit of 18 inches (minimum) and 24 inches (maximum) for green and hawksbill turtles. It will be unlawful to possess green or hawksbill turtles larger than 24 inches or smaller than 18 inches.

• A permanent closure on the taking of Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley turtles. As of 1 July 2014 it will be unlawful to take or fish for any of these species.

• A ban on the export of all turtles and turtle products, except for scientific purposes. No turtle products shall be exported from TCI. • A ban on the keeping of turtles in captivity. As of 1 July it will be unlawful to keep any turtles in captivity, unless such captivity is necessary to rescue, rehabilitate or preserve the life of the turtle.

• A prohibition against processing turtles at sea. All turtles will need to be landed live and in whole condition after being taken and only processed where it is to be sold, processed or used for personal consumption.

In addition to the above turtle regulations, as of July 1, 2014, it will become lawful to export conch shells, conch jewellery, conch pearls or craft products made of conch shells during the closed season for conch. This regulation will allow such products to be exported for non-commercial or personal use only.

Page 10

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Speaker distances self from House media ban

by Vivian Tyson House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Robert Hall has distanced himself from a released issued last weekend under his signature banning certain sections of the media from using their everyday tools to cover parliamentary sittings.

Last week, a notice with Hall’s signature affixed to it, stated that no cameras, audio or any other recording devices will be allowed in the House.

No reason was given. The notice came ahead of the (Monday, June 23, 2014) debating of the contentious Payroll Tax, which government wants to add in the budget for the 2014/2015 fiscal year.

“I would like to bring to your attention that video cameras or any other type of video/audio recording equipment will not be allowed in the media box of the House of Assembly.

“Kindly note that persons (Media Houses) requiring any sort of live feed should request it from the House of Assembly Technical Assistant Mr. Kirkley Parker. I look forward to your continued cooperation in this matter,” the release said.

However, on Monday during the early staging of the Houses session, the speaker suggested that he never gave any decision to prevent the media

from covering the House nor did he give any reason for House officials to do so.

“There has been some commotion in the press, as if someone was interfering in their rights to cover the proceedings. Let me make it clear, I am a full believer in the freedom of the press, and as long as I am the speaker those principles will be adhered to. No one, no one, other than the speaker makes decision with regards to the press or anyone else, the gallery, it is the speaker who is in charge of the House.

“So you have my undertaking that the press will not be hindered in carrying out its responsibilities.

But of course do come with some responsibility also. And I think the press knows that,” Speaker Hall asserted.

He said that the confusion may have been triggered by a suggestion in some quarters as to whether or not the media should cover House of Assembly during the debate of the controversial Payroll Tax, which government has been pushing as its most suitable source for revenue in the TCI at this time.

“All meeting of the legislature is important; today’s meeting has added significance in that it is the first time a bill imposing direct taxation is being

introduced apart from the Value Added Tax, which this House has voted against,” he said.

Midmorning Monday (June 23, 2014) The SUN obtained another news release stating that Tracy Parker, House of Assembly Clerk, has apologized for issuing the first release.

“The Clerk to the House of Assembly Mrs. Tracey Parker has apologized for any misunderstandings caused by their first note. She notes that video recordings of House sittings will not be allowed, but that requests for footage may be made via the Technical Officer, Mr. Kirkley Parker.

“She advises further that any media representative who would like to shoot video footage of any sitting of the House, should send their requests via email to the Speaker or the Clerk,” the release said.

In the meantime, Opposition Member o Parliament Hon. Goldray Ewing blamed the House speaker for the poor attendance of reporters at the House sitting.

“Judging from their absence (of reporters) today, I do believe they got some negative feedback from the Speaker,” Ewing theorized. But the speaker rebuffed Ewing’s statement, again reiterating his is stance to protect the rights of the media to cover House Speaker Hon. Robert Hall sittings.

Londolozi Ltd. is inviting suitable applications for the following position:

Senior Accountant Is looking for an experienced qualified and motivated person with an extensive background in project management to fill the post of:

PROJECT CONSULTANT Main Duties and Responsibilities Includes: • Overall responsibility for delivery of the Downtown retail project and throughout. Serving as mediator between executives, numerous staff members and contractors employed as part of his or her specific area • Oversees general planning, implementation and execution of the programme in line with specific company goals and policies • Responsible for monitoring associated budgets, allocating project resources, motivating and managing the programme’s team members. Other duties include issuing progress reports and ensuring deadlines are met in a timely and efficient fashion. Organizing and implementing a high scale and complex project • Duties may include; Design, Construction, Finance, HR, IT/Software integration, Process Design, Engineering and Logistics.

Requirements / Qualifications: • Minimum of 5+years progressive business consultant experience • Must process Strong organizational and programme management skills • Must demonstrate an extensive skill in change management and process re-engineering, but also significant systems & Integration experience with strong technical knowledge • Applicant must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Management, Business Administration

This position is for a six (6) months time frame; compensation will be based on qualifications and experience Deadline for submission of applicants is July 7th 2014 Submit to: Edith Cox, Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracewayiga.com Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews

Responsibilities: ◊ Preparation of daily cash report ◊ Daily Income/Night Audit ◊ Receivables and related functions ◊ Payroll and Payables functions ◊ Purchasing/Costs and Inventory control functions ◊ Preparation of reports for P & L ◊ Preparation of Bank Reconciliations on a daily/monthly basis: ◊ Report preparation for Annual Audit ◊ Protects organization’s value by keeping information confidential. ◊ Accomplishes accounting and organization mission by completing related results as needed

JOB REQUIREMENTS ◊ Must have 6 or more years previous experience in Accounting, in a hotel or condominium environment ◊ Proficiency in Quickbooks, Web R Pro, DATA Plus hospitality and ISIS Programs is a MUST ◊ Strong knowledge of accounts payable and accounts receivable in maintaining general ledgers ◊ Must possess the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy in preparing and entering financial and payroll information ◊ Must have confidentiality concerning financial and employee files ◊ Must have a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting or related field and/or 5+ years of accounting experience. ◊ Must have strong background in hospitality accounting ◊ Clear communications skills (written and oral) ◊ Must be able to work nights, weekends and holidays Please Submit Applications to:

cgibbons@wihl.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department.

Submissions to be no later than July 4th, 2014 Belongers need only apply.

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 11

LOCAL NEWS

Lord Ashcroft queries TCI $170M bond in House of Lords Lord Ashcroft, the powerful and influential member of the House of Lords, and who is also major investor in the Turks and Caicos Islands, has raised questions about the controversial British loan guarantee to this country.

On June 23, 2014, Lord Ashcroft asked Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House the bond document of the loan that they have guaranteed for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Baroness Northover responded: “The TCI Government issued US$170 million of bonds in 2011 under the terms of an Offering Memorandum. This was guaranteed by DFID. It would not be appropriate for her Majesty’s Government to place a Turks and Caicos Islands Government document in the Library of the House. A copy might be requested, however, from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.”

Although the UK guarantee is for $260m, TCI has drawn on $179m of this facility to date.

Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Misick recently said that TCIG has already paid $58m into the sinking fund which will be used to pay bond holders, leaving a net

guaranteed debt today of $121m.

“Through the TCI Government’s continued good governance and new revenue measures it is hoped to have between $80100m in the sinking fund by 2016, leaving $80-100m of debt that requires to be refinanced,” he said.

The UK loan guarantee was calculated in 2011 as follows: repay inherited TCIG bank loans ($77.9m); repay DFID’s short term loan used to fund government salaries ($48.1m); repay unpaid bills ($33.8m); refinancing fees ($0.4m); and to provide TCIG with a cash ‘float’ ($4.8m); totalling approximately $170m. It also then made allowances for potentially refinancing old high interest bonds ($30m), the projected 2011/12 deficit ($32m) and some ‘headroom’ of $28m), taking total available debt under the guarantee to $260m.

The bonds, with a fixed interest rate of 3.2 percent, will be fully payable on maturity in February 2016.

The bond sale does not provide additional funding for the islands’ government, but replaces a $280 million bridge loan that was part of a $417 million rescue package approved by Britain earlier in 2011.

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited of Raleigh House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands CAP 9.01: 1. Registered Proprietor: Rhynie Campbell Block 60612 Parcel 179, Stone Throw, Ocean Point Drive, Providenciales. The property comprises an existing two storey ocean front residential building with enclosed terraces overlooking Chalk Sound.

The property is located in a residential area with mainly detached medium to high end residential homes on adjacent lots.

2. Registered Proprietor: Beverly Louise Lewis Block 60719, Parcel 192, Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales. The property comprises a main residence as well as a guest house. It further comprises a canal which benefits from water frontage onto a manmade canal.

3. Registered Proprietor: Tammy Angela Smith Block 60000 Parcel 432, North West and North Central, Providenciales. The land is accessed off an un-surfaced section of road at the end of the Millennium Highway which heads west towards Malcolm Beach. The land is undulating with the highest part appearing to be in the middle of the land. Most of the land has been cleared to leave a rough marl surface. There are views of the surrounding land, and is likely that better views will be available from the upper floor of any building constructed on the site.

The auction will be held at the offices of Karam Missick Attorneys, P.O. Box 926, A 201 - A202 Regent Village, Grace Bay, Providenciales, at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday the 4th day of July, 2014.

A reserve price will be fixed on the Properties. A deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.

Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available by request from RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (649) 9417430.

Lord Ashcroft

Butterfield Gold

Two (2) Labourers Applicants must be physical, able-bodied individuals capable of lifting heavy loads.

Wages: starting from $6.00 per hour

One (1) Butcher Individual must have a minimum of 14 years experience in high volume self service meat department with a full knowledge of all cuts of beef, pork, veal, lamb, poultry and deli meats.

Must also be self motivated with high productivity being able to work with little supervision and must work well with others.

Be willing to supervise and train others; also be able to take inventory and assist with ordering levels Wages: commensurate with experience starting from $7.50 per hour Submit applications to by July 10, 2014 to: Butterfield Gold Ltd., Human Resource Department Town Center Mall Providenciales Tel: 649-946-4211

Page 12

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Dolphin Cove marine park in Providenciales may still go ahead It appears that marine park operator Dolphin Cove still expects to pursue construction of a facility in Providenciales in addition to the one already earmarked for the country’s capital Grand Turk, expected to start shortly.

Stafford Burrowes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the entity, told the Jamaica Observer that Dolphin Coves hopes to spend US$6 million initially to develop its three overseas locations - two Turks and Caicos Islands and one in St. Lucia, revealing also that it expects to start night shows at its Ocho Rios, Jamaica attraction, starting in July. “[It will] cost between US$4 and US$6 million in total for the development of the three new locations,” Burrowes told the Observer. “We don’t want to bite more than we can chew.”

The company currently operates a relatively low debt model with J$1.9 billion in total assets with some J$500 million in total liabilities, according to its March first quarter 2014 results.

Burrowes told the newspaper that construction of the attractions will be

financed by a mix of debt and equity.

“We already bought the land... all three totaled US$1.5 million. We bought it at a good time so we got some good deals,” he said.

The company formed Balmoral Dolphins in April 2012 and Cheshire Hall in June 2012 with the intension to develop attractions in Turks & Caicos, the newspaper said.

The company also formed SB Holdings Limited in November 2013, with a wholly owned subsidiary Marine Adventure Park Limited for a park in St Lucia.

Burrowes, the Observer said, expects to begin development in 2015 for the projects which are already delayed by nearly two years. He again blamed the delays on red tape surrounding environmental and planning permission.

Neil Burrowes who heads the Cayman attraction, is responsible for setting up the local attractions, but he had been getting a great deal of push backs especially on Providenciales.

He told The SUN some time ago that despite purchasing the land to site the attractions, was abandoning plans to construct the Providenciales

attraction and concentrate solely on the Grand Turk facility.

He said that once permit is granted, construction of the $3 million marine attraction in Grand Turk will take about six months to complete. He said that the project could have been a bit more advanced, but land boundary issues had to resolved, adding that construction will begin as soon as the Planning Board approves it plan.

“We are slowly proceeding. We had a line boundary issue that has just been resolved, but everybody has been great.

“The land we purchased was a freehold piece of land, and the attorney general felt that in the interest of the people of Grand Turk and the Turks and Caicos Islands there has to be a mutation, and the mutation has been a back-and-forth with them. We have agreed to it, and the government is working hard to make sure that both sides are happy.

“I am hoping to get the approval in the next two months. Once we have the permit to build, it shouldn’t take more than six months to finish all the buildings,” Borrowes explained recently.

Neil Burrowes

NAVA JEWELERS LTD, dba JEWELRY, world renowned jewelers and retail sellers of signature brand jewelry and jewelry related products, with a chain of affiliated jewelry stores and outlets throughout North America, the Caribbean and Worldwide, is now accepting applications/resumes from suitably qualifies persons as:

IMMEDIATE OPENING Senior Butler The butler will provide the highest of penthouse service to our guests. The Butler’s primary goal is to create an ambiance of superior luxury by anticipating each individual guest’s needs.. This is accomplished through moments of surprise and delight that our guest would never have experienced before.

Also ensure guest familiarities to frequent guests visiting the hotel.

Requirements: • Minimum of 7 years experience in food and beverage fine dining as a personal Butler • Must possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written • Strong knowledge of a variety of cuisines and wines/beverages • Must possess local knowledge in order to respond to all inquires from guest, such as restaurants information • Must posses basic computational ability • Must posses basic computer skills • Must be able to follow through all the guest requests and communicate them to the appropriate departments and management in an efficient manner • Must be have attention to details second to none ability, superior interpersonal skills and desire to provide exceptional service to our guest • Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours in length • Must be able to exert well-paced, ability to reach other departments and locations in a timely manner • Must be able to exert well-paced ability in limited space • Must be able to bend, stoop, squat and stretch to fulfill cleaning tasks.

• Must be able to bend and squat and lift up to 25 lbs • Must be able to push and pull equipment weighing up to 75 lbs • Requires grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions.

Bending, climbing, listening and hearing ability and visual acuity.

• Requires manual dexterity to use and operate all necessary equipment • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Starting salary $8.50 per hour Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday, and bring along an updated resume, or by emailing your resume to marjorie.dorsett@regenthotels. com, no later than end of day Friday, July 11th, 2014.

ASSISTANT MANAGER, JEWELRY SALES SPECIALISTS, SUPERVISORS AND MERCHANDISERS, JEWELERS, PRECIOUS STONES BRAND QUALITY CONTROL CLERKS, SALES CLERKS, and/or ASSOCIATES At the Company’s prestigious retail Jewelry sales and Jewelry related merchandise sales Store located at the Carnival Corporation’s Grand Turk Cruise Center, South Beach, Grand Turk.

Requirements: • A sound educational background, and a minimum of five (5) years jewelry sales and general merchandising experience, in the case of Assistant Manager, Supervisors, Precious Stones and Brand Quality Control Clerks and two (2) years in the case of Sales Clerks and Associates, together with a proven and unblemished track record of employment in a highly trusted related field of employment and/or business.

• A positive and disciplined attitude and aptitude toward work in a customer service oriented business.

• Excellent communication, inter-personal and customer service skills.

• A trustworthy, dependable and honest disposition.

• Must be willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays and irregular cruise ship schedule.

• Clean criminal record.

• Unblemished employment history.

• All candidates must be proficient in the English written and spoken word.

Suitable candidates that do not meet the above requirements who, in the sole discretion of the Company’s management team, demonstrate a clear willingness to embrace the Company’s in-house training initiatives and established standard operating policies and procedures, may be eligible for recruitment in exceptional circumstances. Preference will be given to documented Turks and Caicos Islanders.

Interested persons may submit their applications and resumes, via e-mail to: resume@effyjewelery.com, via fax to: 2127308887, or hand deliver the same to any senior member of the company’s staff at its store, commonly known as Jewelry located at Suite No. 2, Building 1, Grand Turk Cruise Center, South Beach, Grand Turk.

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 13

LOCAL NEWS

Turtle Tail/Venetian residents to fix community road

Several home and property owners in the Venetian Road/Turtle Tail Drive subdivision have forged an alliance to bring improvements to their neighborhood including fixing the main road.

The residents, last year, erected a sign to inform property owners of their intention to privately raise funds to get the road improved by paving it.

The residents said they are hoping to mirror a successful project carried out some time ago by residents in the Long Bay Hills subdivision.

Through pledges, the community secured funding close to 60 percent of the total expected cost of $700,000. The said that information and progress, including the names of residents who have already made their pledge can be found at their website www. ourroadtci.com.

“We would like to encourage all residents or business owners to visit the website and contact us with your support and pledge to see this project become reality.

“The advantages of paving the road are quite obvious.

Not only will it save thousands of Dollars in car repairs, savings in fuel costs, which are tremendously high in the Turks & Caicos. But the road improvement will also increase the real estate value of properties, as properties will sell more quickly in areas where infrastructure is in place,” the group said.

The group added: “As Provo gets more developed, its residents and visitors alike want to see the infrastructure improve, not only in the tourist hotspot “Grace Bay” but also in the area where they chose to build their homes. The biggest issue in those areas is The sign in the Venetian Road/Turtle Tail community urging residents to participate in the drive to pave the main road. the state of the roads.”

Margaritaville seeks to identify : DINING ROOM CAPTAIN and more.

SUMMARY: Oversees the duties and responsibilities of

the service staff and has responsibility for maintaining an efficient operation. Coordinates and monitors the activities of the overall restaurant floor operation including the service employees, staff performance, quality of service, troubleshooting and expediting as needed to ensure a positive guest experience. Provides service standards training and ensure compliance of standards.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Associates or Bachelors’ degree preferred;

three years prior server, at least 3 years supervisory, management experience in a recognized high-volume food and beverage industry preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience; HACCP training and proper food handling techniques would be a plus

REQUIREMENTS:

- Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) - Able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Able to write simple correspondence.

- Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.

- Must be physically able to stand for periods of up to 8 hours or longer - Able to work flexible hours including, weekends, night shift and public holidays - Energetic & people oriented, reliable with problem solving skills

We are also accepting applications for the following positions for the upcoming season in October 2014: Bartenders, Servers, Stilt Walker and Kitchen Helpers.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Application along with resume must be submitted

by 8th July, 2014 to the office of : Margaritaville Grand Turk

Grand Turk Cruise Center

South Base, White Sands Beach

Grand Turk, T.C.I.

B.W.I

Belongers only, need apply. While we welcome and appreciate all applicants, only persons short-listed for an interview will be contacted.

CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR/ESTIMATOR Typical Work Activities Primary Works:

1. Prepare Project Estimate and Bid Administration: - Prepare and maintain status of plan production - Solicit and maintain communication with subcontractors and vendors - Prepare subcontractor pricing - Show creativity and resourcefulness to gain better pricing from suppliers and subcontractors - Review bid requirements thoroughly and asks follow-up question on every bid - Demonstrate thorough understanding of the scope for specific trades assigned 2. Prepare schedule of works to be accomplished by gathering information and requirement; setting priorities 3. Prepare construction budget by studying home plans; updating specifications, identifying and projecting costs for each evaluation 4. Evaluate offers to purchase by cost changes, addition and site requirements 5. Maintain Cost Keys and price masters by updating information 6. Resolve cost discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information 7. Maintain quality service by following organization standards 8. Prepare/review construction method and procedures for assigned projects 9. Prepare for scheduling and procurement of materials and equipment necessary for the project 10. Monitoring of materials for timely delivery on the assigned projects 11. Assist Project Manager to coordinate implementation activities such us, identifies design problems, monitor project expenditures to meet construction budget 12. Assist Project Manager in scheduling and coordinating manpower for the project 13. Prepare technical report for building construction 14. Conduct inspections at critical phases 15. Identify and evaluate variances and implementation of change orders 16. Keep project management informed of project status, highlighting deviations from plan 17. Perform all incidental functions and tasks as and when required by management Applications together with accompanying CV and certified copies of professional qualifications, etc. may be addressed to: The Managing Director Olympic Construction Ltd Waterloo Plaza Complex Waterloo Road Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands Cellphone #: 649-231-6525 Office #: 649-946-1278 Fax #: 649-946-1101

Page 14

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Some businesses refusing to allow free condoms placement The refusal by some business establishments to permit free condoms to be placed in their offices allowing general public access is one of the prohibitive factors in the fight against the spread of sexuallytransmitted diseases, according to Aldora Robinson, Head of the National AIDS Programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the TCI Comprehensive Condom Programming workshop at the Occasions Ballroom at the Airport Plaza, Providenciales on Wednesday (June 25), Robinson said that a more mutual collaboration between private and public sector has to be laid if condom use to prevent the spread of STIs is to be effective.

“In order to maximize our effectiveness, there is a need to be more collaborative; a more collaborative effort on the part of private and public sectors. It also demands that we are provided with consistent and affordable supply of condoms. Condoms are effective for HIV prevention, and as you know, this is the HIV Prevention Unit,” she said.

She told the gathering that targeted condom programmes can be extremely cost-effective, but there is a need to ensure that it gets to those who most need them.

She revealed that the endeavor is sometimes hindered by multiple hurdles, including what she referred to as provider bias, which she said has to do with some establishment repelling the idea of making their businesses a place where free condoms can be accessed.

“In some instances where you have ready physical access, persons are not able to access condoms because of their fear of being seen or the rumours or the myths as far as condoms are concerned. We still have a lot of work to do in terms of dispelling condom myths, misconceptions, fears and the negative attitudes that act as barriers

SUN & FUN PHOTOS SEEKS

Domestic Worker

Aldora Robinson to correct and consist of condoms use,” she said.

She added: “When we talk about the goal of condom programming, it is with specific intention to reduce the number of unproductive sex acts with a desired outcome, which is to reduce the incidents of pregnancy that are unintended, and sexually transmitted

BEAUTY & ELEGANT BRADING SALON SEEKS

1 Hairstylist

To work 5 days per week

Contact 241-7124 KENVA WILLIAMS SEEKS

Please contact

chickter20@hotmail.com or 242-0688

CARIBBEAN PARADISE INN Is looking for a

Font Desk Supervisor Salary negotiable

Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 241-4404

ELITE SECURITY SERVICE

ONE Labourer To work 6 days per week Salary $5.00 per hour

infections.”

She said that some establishments such as restaurants and bars have consented condoms being place in them, adding that the next step to have seek permission of youth centres to have them placed there.

“You have female and male condoms to complement each other; and it is a

Security Guard

With at least five years experience in the security industry Salary negotiable.

Contact 231-0047

Interested person should contact 231-1612

WANTED Carpenters Labourers Plumbers Electrician Steel Man Foreman Contact 242-9218

strategic move, as we recognized that through our programmes on condom programming, these measures and efforts take advantage off of a variety of entry points, not just the clinics that some of you work in, but also for example, bars.

“Hopefully in the near future, we would want to look at youth centres, and we want to expand youth centres in our various communities and island,” she said.

Robinson said that studies proved that condom use has reduced the spread of all kinds of STIs, and so it is important that they are readily available to those who need them.

“As documented by solid epidemiological studies, states that condoms are effective for HIV prevention. Consistent condom use

by HIV- Serodiscordant couples (one infected and the other not) resulted in near zero transmission rate to zero negative,” she said.

She noted that Thailand achieved rapid success in condom use, which in the 1999s increased from 14 percent to 99 percent in commercial sex acts, and STIs in men fell by 79 percent.

She revealed also that HIV reduction incidents and prevalence in Uganda have resulted from pseudo behavioral changes, including reduction in partners, delayed youth sexual intercourse and increased condom use.

“We can and must continue to make condoms readily available when and where people need them. Reaching men with effective condom promotional messages is key, especially where sexual decision-making is male dominated.

“High risk groups must remain a key target, even as we make strides to eliminate barriers to the use of condoms in the general population. It has been agreed that female condoms increase women’s empowerment. I encourage all women today to use the tools available to you,” she urged.

WANTED

CARAMBOLA RESTAURANT Seeks

ONE 1 COOK MASON Applicant must be honest reliable and hardworking Also fluent in English and French Salary $10.00 per

Contact 346-1956 CLAUDETTE GIBSON

seeks

To work 6 days a week Salary $6.00 per hour Interested persons should

Contact 941-8122 Samuel Pierre Is seeking to employ

HOUSEKEEPER/ A Domestic CARE TAKER Worker

Should be able to lift heavy objects, Clean, Iron & wash.

Persons must be able to work weekends and holidays.

Tel # 347-9069

Salary $300 per week Please forward resume and contact information to samuelpierre87@gmail.com

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 15

LOCAL NEWS

Edward Gartland Youth Centre to provide another summer of fun!

Be prepared this year as The Edward Gartland Youth Centre brings on the fun this summer with a packed program of adventure and excitement.

It’s that time of the year again and that means it’s time for summer camps at the Edward Gartland Youth Centre.

“You spoke and we listened so this time around we are offering more camps, more activities with the same wholesome fun for young people,” says director Roxann Wake Forbes.

“Once again we are partnering with a number of agencies to ensure that our young people get the best! Provo Amateur Basketball Association (PABA), Turks & Caicos National Trust, Turks & Caicos International Tennis Federation (TCITF), Nutrition in Demand, Turks & Caicos Volleyball Association, Turks & Caicos Friends of the Arts and a number of independent companies have reached out to us to assist in providing a varied and exceptionally fun filled summer

programme,” she said.

Summertime is all about fun in the sun, the beach and spending time with friends and the Edward Gartland Youth Centre has encompassed all of these elements in a summer packed scheduled starting Monday July 7th, 2014.

“Our camps kick off with our ever popular Basketball Camp followed by our first ever Cultural and Adventure Camp, Tennis Camp, Dance camp, Fitness & Nutrition camp, Volleyball Camp all happening in July,” she said.

“In August we keep the fun going by offering our annual Acting Camp, another Tennis and Dance Camp, Cooking Camp and a number of other fun activities in between,” says Wake Forbes.

The Edward Gartland Youth Centre will be open throughout the summer from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday with the camps catering to youths between the ages of 10 and 18 years old.

“So don’t miss out on all the fun to be had this summer at the Edward Gartland Youth

Road safety officer’s case set for Supreme Court

Centre where your kid is sure to have a blast in a safe and fun environment surrounded by other kids looking for the same,” says Wake Forbes.

The summer ends with a bang with the second annual Miss Edward Gartland Youth Centre Pageant and Summer Bash. It is a friendly family fun day packed with games, entertainment and food for all the family to enjoy with the night ending with the crowning of the Miss ECG. All camps have a small fee of $10.00 for members of the centre and $25.00 for non-members and run for a week. Spaces are limited, however, there are a number of scholarships available on a first come first served basis.

The centre is located downtown between Shining Star School and the Community College.

For more information please 331-9602 or alternatively email R oxa nn@ecgyout hcent re.com or visit us on Facebook, www. facebook.com/ecgyouthcentre

Road Safety Officer Dereck Dean, who was arrested by the Integrity Commission on a slew of corruption charges, is to appear before a Supreme Court sufficiency hearing in Grand Turk in August.

The sufficiency hearing is to decide whether or not the charges against him bear any merit to go forward. Samantha Glinton, prosecutor in the case, said Dereck Dean that a date for the hearing will be arrived at shortly, but confirmed that it will be in August.

When Dean appeared before Magistrate Court Two at Graceway House on Tuesday (June 24, 2014), Judge Jolyan Hatman, because of the nature of the charges, denied magistrate’s court jurisdiction and recommended that the matter be heard in the Supreme Court.

The Integrity Commission, under the signature of its director, Eugene Otuonye, Q.C., announced on June 17, that it charged Dean with eight counts of corruption offenses contrary to Section 44 of the Integrity Commission Ordinance.

Dean was granted bail with recognisance of bail in the sum of $5,000 with one surety. Dean was represented in court by Glenda Clarke.

Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala have vacancies for the following position:

Chief Engineer Duties: Provides overall direction and oversight to the Maintenance Department of Parrot Cay

by COMO, Turks and Caicos. Parrot Cay by COMO is an award-winning Turks and Caicos luxury resort.

Controls and maintains primary utility systems including diesel electric generating units and reverse-osmosis seawater desalination units to produce electric power and portable water for distribution to a hotel and private residences throughout. Direct and coordinate the day-to-day operations of the utility production and distribution systems.

Ensure both long term and short term goals are achieved through the implementation and completion of set targets and corporate goals.

This position will be based on property at Parrot Cay. Responsibilities: • Planning, management and participation in the operation and maintenance of all utility systems including diesel engine based power plant.

• Preparation and management of systematic preventative and corrective maintenance.

• Performs daily maintenance and troubleshooting activities, making necessary adjustments to keep plant(s) operating efficiently.

• Preparation and management of monthly energy use reports for core systems.

• Develop and maintain operating budgets for the facility. Obtain and review budget results with senior management on a monthly basis, identify deviations and manager corrective actions.

• Promote the identification of training requirements. Review and develop programs to meet the operational requirements for both long and short term goals. Ensure continual development of staff to meet the changing facility needs.

• Monitors and inspects equipment for potential mechanical / electrical problems notifying management if unable to correct conditions.

• Communicates all operational issues concerning the facility to management in a timely manner.

• Maintains safe conditions and operates within required permits.

• Develops, maintains and enforces safety protocols.

• Utilize computerized maintenance management system to create work orders for inventory and with planning /prioritization.

• Plan, schedule and receive fuel oil deliveries.

• Coordinate provision of utility services to new customers.

• Performs emergency response as required.

Requirements: • Position will be responsible for supervising/managing/overseeing the Engineering departments.

• Requires a minimum of 7 year(s) of supervisory experience.

• Requires a minimum of 10 year(s) of experience in relevant position.

• Must have experience at properties of similar size and preferable in 5 star luxury hotels/ resorts environment.

• Position will be required to work a varied schedule that may include evenings, nights, and weekends.

• Candidates must be able to satisfy required drugs and background clearance.

• Minimum of 3-6 years’ experience as a manager of power plants.

• Background as Marine / Mechanical Engineer or equivalent highly preferred • Solid practical experience with 4-stroke diesel engines, electrical generation and auxiliary equipment.

• Experience with seawater desalination systems.

• Prior experience with modern controls systems.

• Knowledge and experience of electrical safety rules and procedures.

• Knowledge and experience of operations procedures and operation of primary substations and high voltage underground distribution.

Other Managerial Positions: • Recreation Manager • Asst. Executive Housekeeper • Financial Controller OTHER POSITIONS Pilates Teacher Commis Chef Sous Chef Senior Therapist K9 Dog Handler Spa Night Receptionist Laundry Technician

Resort Butler Chef de Partie Food & Beverage Server Spa Attendant Water Sports Instructor Night Kitchen Steward IT System Administrator

Private Estates Supervisor Demi Chef Spa Therapist Private Estates Attendant Bartender Mechanic Helper Carpenter Supervisor

Salary for this position will be paid base on qualification and experience. Please note that all application must be submitted with a valid Police Record, two reference letters from previous employers or a notary public and current educational certificates.

Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address: Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala P.O. Box 164 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749 Email: careers.parrotcay@comohotels.com

Page 16

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Telecommunications Commission announces interconnection rate review decision The Turks and Caicos Telecommunications Commission released Telecommunications Decision 2014-4 which establishes a new “Interconnection Rate” plan regulating the wholesale rate that Lime, Digicel and IslandCom Communications will be allowed to charge each other for terminating mobile and fixed telecommunications services over the course of the next three years.

The Commission has recommended to Cabinet that regulations be amended to introduce the planned new rates. The new rates are expected to come into effect on July 1, 2014.

Interconnection Rates, which are subject to regulation in many Caribbean as well as other countries, are the rates carriers charge each other for terminating telecommunication services on their respective networks.

Under the plan established by the Commission, the maximum permitted rate for mobile call termination will

be reduced, in a graduated manner, from the current level of US $0.0850 per minute to US $0.0750 per minute after July 1, 2014, to US $0.0675 per minute after March 31, 2015, and to US $0.0600 per minute after March 31, 2016 (in each case, adjusted on a pro rata basis for units of less than a minute).

Fixed call termination will be reduced, in a graduated manner, from the current level of US $0.0300 per minute to US $0.0220 per minute after July 1, 2014, to US $0.0195 per minute after March 31, 2015, and to US $0.0170 per minute after March 31, 2016 (in each case, adjusted on a pro rata basis for units of less than a minute).

Transit call termination will be reduced, in a graduated manner, from the current level of US $0.0150 per minute to US $0.0110 per minute after July 1, 2014, to US $0.00975 per minute after March 31, 2015, and to US $0.0085 per minute after March 31, 2016 (in each case, adjusted on a pro rata basis for units of less than a

minute).

The reduction in the Interconnection Rates is in harmony with world trends in the telecommunications industry and will foster stronger competition among the carriers. It should also result in lower prices for calls across local telecommunications networks.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mrs. Heather Allen, stated that: “We are very pleased that the Commission was able to continue with pricing reforms that will benefit all Turks and Caicos Islanders, and in these difficult economic times, provide some relief from price increases that are hitting so many essential services.

The Chairman added: “The Commission will continue to strive to motivate improvements in services from the telecom sector, and to press the operators to ensure that TCI leads in the region in terms of the availability of state-of-theart new digital communications services demanded by consumers and businesses as well as by global

visitors and businesses seeking to invest in our country.”

“The Turks and Caicos Telecommunications Commission is responsible for regulating the telecommunications operators in Turks & Caicos Islands, as set out in the Telecommunications Ordinance of 2004”.

“The Commission is charged with maintaining effective and fair competition in the telecom sector that will benefit consumers and to ensure that rates, conditions and quality of the services provided to consumers are reasonable, bearing in mind that the operators are private businesses with a right to a fair profit on their investments”.

“We are also responsible for managing the radio waves and the use of the radio spectrum by the cellular operators, radio and television stations, private radio systems used by businesses and industry etc., and making sure that the users do not interfere with the radio frequencies assigned to others”.

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JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 17

LOCAL NEWS

Payroll Tax will condemn TCI economy forever, says Deputy Speaker Deputy Speaker Hon. Josephine Connolly says the controversial payroll tax will condemn the Turks and Caicos Islands economy forever.

In a hard-hitting speech delivered in the House of Assembly last week, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) At-Large MP opposed the introduction of the tax.

“What we have before us a bill that will fundamentally change the way we do business in this country. There will be no going back. This bill will set the course for this country for the future.

And I believe Mr Speaker that this bill will condemn this economy forever.

This bill will change forever the way we do business in the Islands, or to be more precise in the future how we do not do business in the islands. Because after we pass this bill there will be less and less people who will want to do business here,” Connolly said.

She added: “We are here to represent the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the people expect no less from us. The People should not be concerned about fate because the TCIG has closed their ears to the people’s cry to stop all the taxation.

The people have said categorically that they cannot afford to have more

monies taken out of their salary. Some people are already losing their homes and land because they cannot afford to make payments based on their current salaries.”

“In one of the ministerial statements by the Minister of Finance he reported that the UK ministers said that WE are a rich country. I believed after a good dining experience in Grace bay they came to that conclusion but let me tell you Mr. Speaker I want the Minister of finance to tell the UK ministers that the real Turks and Caicos Islanders do not live in Grace Bay they live in Kew town, the bight, five keys, north Caicos, South Caicos, Blue Hills, Wheeland and Salt Cay and the next time they are in town I will be more than happy to take them around.”

She said the government and the Minister of Finance and the UK government want us to go down the road called “We get our Money back road”. Unfortunately, she said, what the UK seems to ignore and this government is frightened to tell them is that that road leads to a dead end called “economic decline”.

The Deputy Speaker added: “I would suggest that at this crossroads we ignore the advice of the UK and the

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Minister of Finance and stride forward towards the economic success highway.

“We need to try and see through the excuses that have been provided for this bill. To suggest as the Minister of Finance did in his ministerial statement that we would have survived the external shock of the 2008 recession had we had a payroll tax is complete and utter nonsense.

“The recession was the worst for seventy years, every country in the world suffered and that is countries with payroll tax. The truth is we would have weathered the recession better had the last PNP government not spent all the money we had, ran up enormous debts, given away half the country and provided custom exemptions to their friends. But these circumstances are never discussed by the Minister of Finance even when he is speaking to quote “straight from the heart”.

She added that there are a number of time bombs hidden in the body of the bill, which will cause serious problems for this country.

“First of all, let us be clear this is not a payroll tax this is in fact income tax. Payroll tax is a tax an employer withholds and/or pays on behalf of their employees based on the wage or salary

Deputy Speaker Josephine Connolly of the employee. It does not include dividend income that the owner of the business pays himself or herself. You may ask how can such an obvious error in the title of this bill arise? Well it is clear that this government did not want to be the first Caribbean overseas territory to introduce income tax, so what do they do, they call it something else.

“This bill is an income tax bill so let us all be honest about it. The Minister of Finance should stop playing games with the people of this country. If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck it is a duck.

This is a tax on income so why do we not call it what it is an income tax.”

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Page 18

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Rachel Taylor leaves Enid Capron Primary

by Vivian Tyson Come September the Enid Capron Primary School will be without the services of its longstanding standardbearer. The astute and assertive Rachel Taylor will be journeying to the United Kingdom to study administration and communication.

Already many have been saying that Taylor’s successor will have some huge shoes to fill, since she has achieved so much for the institution over the past 19 years – seven years at the helm.

Under Taylor’s leadership, Enid Capron was able to develop a Science lab; have a computer in every classroom, outfitted with speakers; a reading library; an improved infant playground; the introduction of additional clubs; the Little Miss and Mr. ECPS; a mentoring programme for teachers, especially those entering from colleges; and an initiative to have a projector in every classroom – having at least seven so far.

Reflecting on her almost two decades at the institution, Taylor said: “My journey here at Enid Capron Primary for the past 19 years has been quite a rewarding one, starting with Infant One, and moving on to grades three and four. My best years, I can say, were spent in grade six, I think that was my greatest challenge, and I thought it was something that was quite rewarding,” she said.

She told The SUN that the love for her students gives her invigoration.

“I think my true love for Enid Capron has been the love of the students. I work quite hard to see them improve in all areas, not just academics, but in sports and the pageants that we put on, the various clubs that we have our children actively involved in, because I believe that not every child is academically inclined. So I believe in giving every child the opportunity to improve or maximize his or her true potential,” she said.

Through Taylor, Enid Capron received a great deal of assistance from the business community. As a result, she was able to get a great deal of work done at the institution.

“Sometimes people would like to say, ‘oh, she is showing off’. But it is not about that. I think it is about letting people know what the teachers are doing, how successful we are, and I think people

Rachel Taylor like others to say thank you. I think using the media is my small way of saying thank you to those persons who have contributed significantly to the Enid Capron Primary School,” she said.

Taylor said too, that the PTA body played a great part in the school achieving so much.

“I think they have been behind me.

There are times when I think things could have been better, but I think because of the leadership skills and the styles that I have developed over the years, I have been able to lure people into getting what we want here at the Enid Capron Primary School. I just want to say special thanks not just to the community of Five Cays but to the entire Providenciales,” she said.

Taylor also credits her teachers for supporting her in making the school achieving so much.

I always say, behind every successful

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really helped to push me. He said to me, ‘Mrs. Taylor, Enid Capron is not where you want to be’, because actually, I am a high school teacher. But I was placed here because they said [I was] inexperienced,” she stated.

Taylor is one teacher who can boast of her students’ love for her, and that was displayed when The SUN visited the school to conduct the interview.

Sometimes you have to discipline with that firm hand, and at the same time, loving. At the school I always realize that it is always good to say I am sorry. Sometimes you may speak harshly to a child or sometime you may just spank them. I always go back and say, I am sorry I did that, and I always told them the reason why they were punished.

“I think as leaders we ought to really know the background about the students. We have to take that time to get to know the students. Some of the times when they are sent to the office, I don’t just don’t necessarily spank them, I always find out the reason for them coming, and probably try to work with the parents and the teacher to see how best we can assist the student,” she revealed.

She described her role as principal for the past seven years as wonderful, even though she has been told time and time again that it is a stressful job and doesn’t pay much.

“Being a leader has taught me to be patient. It has given men a heart of love. leader there are teams of persons And it has taught me also to respect the who work assiduously to achieve our opinions of others, especially when you objectives, and I must say thanks to are dealing with a group of teachers. It my teachers for their support. And I also allowed me to tap into the hidden always say it is them that make me abilities of my teachers and students,” look good, and I want to thank them she said.

Among the teachers to whom she for their support,” she said.

Taylor has vowed to return to make gives credit for her development are further contribution to the Turks and George Fulford, Blythe Clare, Urlene Caicos Islands, but this could be in the Eliot and Emily Malcolm.

She noted that in order to be a league of the high schools.

“I think in life everybody has to successful teacher or principal, love for move on. I am going to further my students, determination and going the studies, and I am quite sure that I will extra mile are virtues that have to be come back and be of more beneficial exhibited.

“What I want persons to remember to the country in general. I am going to England for, maybe, about two of my tenure here at Enid Capron years. But I am going to do so many is not the years of my service, but different things during the two years. rather the service that I have given I will be studying administration and to the education system in an effort to enhance the development of the communication.

“I want to say thanks to Dr. Hubert education here in the Turks and Caicos Fulford because he is the one that Islands,” she said.

 

   •  •      •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •           

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Garland B

Members of Island Boys were all full of energy.

Only one

And the winners are: Band Boyz!

Band trium Islandco Lead singer of the Obstak Band.

Band Boyz (formerly copped the People’s Choice known as V6), utterly de- award, along with US$5,000 stroyed their five rivals at cash and Samsung phones.

In second place was the Islandcom’s 5th annual battle of the bands competition “oldie but goodie” Island dubbed “Casino Royale”.

Boys, who, after 15 years Armed with their musi- together, were still going cal weaponry, the smartly- strong. The “boys” thrilled dressed group did not disap- the audience with reggae point the crowd gathered at hits like Call On Me by the Turtle Cove Marina last Jah Cure as each member Saturday (June 21, 2014). showed their individual muIntroduced by band mem- sic skills. These music veterber “Super Duper”, the en- ans won US$2,500 and Samergetic band had every one sung S4 minis. singing along and dancing Placing third was the to popular hits like John Garland Band who received Legend’s All Of Me, Robin US$1,000 in cash. All the Thicke’s Blurred Lines and winners were also presented Pharrell Williams’ Hap- with gift certificates courtepy. They sang their way sy The Wine Cellar. into everyone’s hearts and The other bands includ-

Just dance!

Band Boyz gave a performance to remember.

Chrystal Charles, aka TESS, always brings the sexy back to her performances.

This member of the Harbour Catch Band showing she’s got the moves.

Wild abandonment!

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Band placed third.

TESS and her back-up dancers kept the crowd hype with their energetic rendition of Tina Turner’s Proud Mary. At right, Tiffany Thomas showing she can wine.

band member was on hand to collect Island Boys’ prizes. They placed second.

Boyz mph in om Battle ed the very risqué Harbour Catch, whose lead singer gyrated, bent over and went to the ground singing Faye Ann Lyons Heavy T Bumper, Patrice Roberts Wukking up and an original song about a banana.

Haitian Band Obstak failed to hype up the crowd, while the Karib Band boasted of Caribbean unity within the band, but there was none in the harmony.

The sultry vocals of TESS (Chrystal Charles) was like a breath of fresh air as she took the audience back with Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know and Tina Turner’s Proud Mary, complete with an equally as en-

tertaining dance routine.

Denise Belfon’s Wining Queen was Tiffany Thomas’ cue to come on stage as TESS made her exit. The talented singer, songwriter and performer slowed the tempo down but kept the groovy vibes with Lauryn Hill’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You and Estelle’s Come Over . The female lead vocalist of Caribbean Music Farm even asked the guys present to come and “test her wine” during her rendition of Destra’s I Dare You. A sure crowd favourite, Thomas was a great act to close out the show, followed by fireworks and an appearance by the junkanoo band.

The audience loved every minute of Band Boyz performance.

Beautiful sisters.

Pretty maidens all in a row.

Beauty queens were among the crowd.

Lovely couple posing for the camera.

Beautiful smile.

Say cheese!

The three ladies of the Karib Band.

Strike that pose!

All smiles for the camera.

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C.H.J.P.S boys do a medley of folk songs.

Xaria Johnson is crowned Miss CHJP.

Little Miss Caicos Culturama

by Marguerite Anderson

Miss Middle Caicos in her Indigenous Character as a Basket weaver.

Miss North Caicos models her Island Costume appearing as the wife of a farmer.

Miss Grand Turk in Indigenous Character as a Salt raker.

Xaria Johnson is Miss Middle Caicos as she models her Island Costume.

Students of the Charles Hubert James Primary School in North Caicos took to the stage on Saturday, June 13th in a cultural extravaganza which saw the Horse stable Beach Complex full to capacity. The event which commenced at 7:00 pm was the “Little Miss Culturama” Pageant.

Five contestants, each representing individual islands, showcased the TCI history, culture and heritage by competing in areas such as the depiction of an Indigenous Character synonymous with each represented island, Talent presentations, appearances in their Sunday-Best outfits, and also modeling their Island Costume.

Additionally, contestants were judged based on their responses to a question given in an on-stage interview as each

Miss South Caicos, Cynthaia Saintil models her costume as a fisher woman.

paraded in their Sunday-Best outfits.

Contestants vying for the crown had to demonstrate specific qualities and attributes. Among these are intelligence, talent, cultural awareness, poise, stage presence, dynamism and creativity, and the ability to articulate themselves.

Emceeing the event was Marguerite Anderson, Coordinator of the Raymond Gardiner High School’s Performing Arts Club. The opening act was a dance by the five contestants and this set the stage for the evening’s festivities of cultural displays and talents.

Judging the contestants were Director of Culture, David Bowen, singer/song-writer, Lovey Forbes, and hairstylist and North Caicos resident, Patti DesLauriers.

The diversity of the cultural dress, costumes, talents, and overall displays served as an informative literature of the islands being represented.

Contestants appeard in characters such as the salt raker, the fisherwoman, the farmer’s wife, the basket weaver and the sailor. The contestants were Miss Grand Turk, Jakenia Louis, Miss South Caicos, Synthaia Saintil, Miss Middle Caicos, Xaria Johnson, Miss North Caicos, Alecia Edwards, and Miss Providenciales, Dasharia Gardiner.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Contestants’ Opening Dance.

Pageant winners are flanked by Principal, Mrs Morley-Campbell; MC, Marguerite Anderson; Judges- Lovey Forbes, Patti DesLauriers and Director of Culture, David Bowen.

Middle wins crown

Staff folk medley. At right, Mis North Caicos’ talent piece depicting Lovey Forbes (NC icon).

There were a number of other items in the entertainment package. These were a fashion show from grade six students of the Charles Hubert James Primary as they modelled Summer Wear clothing, Instrumental renditions from saxophonists, McKeever Lewis of the Raymond Gardiner High School, cultural dance and song from other students of the C.H.J.P.S. Additionally, the school’s principal Comoncieta Campbell-Morley along with teachers added to the delight of the audience with a medley of folk songs. Their item was complemented by the appearance of the riveting Corn Shuck Rushers who joined the teachers on stage in the second half of their performance.

The judges had a tremendous task, given the impeccability of the performances from the contestants. Nonetheless, the most outstanding contestant emerged in the person of Miss Middle Caicos, Xaria Johnson who won the crown of “Miss Culturama 2014”. She was flanked by 1st Runner-Up Miss Grand Turk, Jakenia Louis, 2nd Runner-Up Miss South Caicos, Synthaia Saintil and 3rd Runner-Up Miss North Caicos, Alecia Edwards.

There were also sectional awards for Best Island Costume, Best Stage Presence, Most Articulate, Best Talent, Best Indigenous Character and Most Photogenic. Miss Middle Caicos’s Xaria Johnson claimed the prize in all the segments except for the latter. The Most Photogenic award went to Miss Grand Turk, Jakenia Louis.

The satisfied audience belted out its applaud when the announcements were finally made.

The event proved to be a success and the Principal extended appreciation to the staff who groomed and prepared the contestants and also to the sponsors who funded the prizes/awards or who assisted in many other areas.

Miss Providenciales models her Island Costume depicting the development of Provo, the tourism meccah.

Miss North Caicos in her Island Costume.

Miss North Caicos talent presentation.

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Jackson remains a provider five years after his death

Xscape

LOS ANGELES – It’s been port Jackson’s three children five years since Michael Jackson and mother. Yet an analysis died, yet his career is more alive by The Associated Pressshows much more has gone to erase the than it has been in decades.

Just last month, the singer singer’s massive debts and to run moonwalked across a Las Vegas the estate that powers his robust stage in a nationally televised posthumous career.

As would be expected, the last hologram performance. A new album recently debuted at No. 2 five years have brought their on music charts. And a traveling share of change and adjustment Cirque du Soleil show based on for Jackson’s children, known to Jackson’s songs has logged nearly the world as Prince, 17; Paris, 16; and Blanket, 12. They were at 500 performances worldwide.

The result has been an estate their father’s rented mansion on that has earned more than $600 June 25, 2009, when he was givmillion since the King of Pop’s en an overdose of the anesthetic propofol in his upstairs bedroom. untimely death at age 50.

Some of the earnings sup- And they were at the hospital

Chris Brown rejects plea deal in assault case

R&B singer Chris Brown rejected a no-jail plea deal on Wednesday for a suspected sidewalk punchup and will go to trial in September, the latest legal hurdle for the Grammywinning performer.

Brown, 25, rejected a plea accord that would have sentenced him to time served in exchange for pleading guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge, his attorney Mark Geragos said.

“They wanted him to read from a script that wasn’t true.

He didn’t want to do that, and I didn’t want him to do that,” he told reporters outside the District of Columbia Superior Court.

Senior Superior Court Judge Patricia Wynn set a September 8th trial date. During the roughly 20-minute hearing, prosecutor Kevin Chambers told her, “We have not been able to reach agreement in this case.”

The “Turn Up the Music” singer, who was dressed in a white shirt, black jacket and slacks, spoke only to his attorneys in the courtroom packed with

Grammy-winning R&B singer Chris Brown (center) departs the D.C. Courthouse in Washington. media, fans and onlookers.

Bill Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office, said the failure to reach a plea deal centered on the statement of facts to which Brown would have to plead guilty.

“In no way could it be construed

as a script,” he said.

Parker Adams, 20, claimed Brown and his bodyguard Chris Hollosy punched him and broke his nose when he tried to jump into a fan photo outside a Washington hotel in October 2013. Hollosy has been convicted.

Oscar organizers outline new regulations for music categories

The organizers of the Academy Awards are putting rules in place for next year to prevent any missteps in the film campaign process, targeting the music categories. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, hosts of the annual Oscar ceremony, said that members of its music branch are not allowed to contact other members via mail, email, telephone or social media to promote the nomination of their song.

Voting members are also not permitted to attend a live performance of eligible songs unless it is tied to a film screening.

The new regulations come after an Oscar-nominated contender in the original song category this year was disqualified after the Academy said the songwriter, Bruce Broughton, had violated rules by emailing voters about submitting the song for awards consideration.

Broughton, a former Academy governor and executive committee member in its music branch, had composed the title song for the independent Christian-faith movie “Alone Yet Not Alone,” which beat out higher-profile contenders to secure a place on the Oscars’ best original song

shortlist. Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement at the time that Broughton’s use of his position in the Academy to promote his Oscar submission “creates the appearance of an unfair advantage.”

Broughton denied any wrongdoing and said he was “devastated” at the disqualification of his song. Four contenders remained in the race, and the Oscar was won by “Let It Go,” the hit tune from Walt Disney Co’s animated film, “Frozen.”

several hours later when he was pronounced dead. It would take more than two years before Jackson’s doctor was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

A father who taught his children philanthropy, threw them lavish birthday parties and meticulously masked them from the paparazzi is gone. Michael Jackson, however, continues to provide.

Nearly $20 million had been spent to support Jackson’s children and his mother, Katherine, through 2012. Payments to the family have increased each year since 2009, according to records.

Nigerian singer offers virginity in exchange for abducted girls A Nigerian pop singer and peace ambassador has sent shock waves across social media by offering her virginity to Islamic militants in exchange for the return of hundreds of kidknapped schoolgirls.

Adokiye, 23, made the proposal to Boko Haram members to help free the 276 Nigerian girls which they snatched in April from the largely Christian north-eastern town of Chibok.

The singer and actress from the country’s Imo State told Nigerian newspaper Vanguard: ‘This is 11pm in the night and do you know what I am thinking about? Those little girls, where they are and what could be happening to them.

‘It is just unfair. They are too young. I wish I could offer myself in exchange.’

The UN Ambassador of Peace also added: ‘They are between 12 and 15 year old girls for Christ sake. I am older and more experienced. Even if 10 to 12 men have to take me every night, I don’t care. Just release these girls and let them go back to their parents.’

The kidnapping, by the Abubakar Shekau led group, has already sparked a worldwide campaign #BringBackOurGirls. It has been backed by celebrities and highprofile leaders like David Cameron and Michelle Obama but Twitter uses weren’t so sure about the merits of Adokiye’s offer.

Twitter user Singhatul2014 said the offer was ‘very touching’ and that Adokiye should be given a Nobel Peace Prize, while user Kunleadefioye asked: ‘And what can one make of this Adokiye offer – genuine, gallery play, tacky postering or...’

Nigeria singer and actress Adokiye, seen here making a kissing face to the camera in a picture she posted to her Instagram account, offer to the Boko Haram has been called both brave and a publicity stunt.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Transformers raid Hong Kong in ‘Age of Extinction’

Late UK TV star Savile said to have sexually abused dead bodies

1. 22 Jump Street (R) Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill 2. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (PG) animated 3. Maleficent (PG) Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning 4. Edge of Tomorrow (PG-13) Tom Cruise 5. The Fault in Our Stars (PG-13) 6. X-Men: Days of Future Past (PG-13) 7. Godzilla (PG-13) Elizabeth Olsen 8. A Million Ways to Die in the West (R) Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron 9. Neighbors (R) Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne 10. Chef (R) Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr.

TOP 10 MUSIC SINGLES

TOP 10 MOVIES

Jimmy Savile, the late BBC TV presenter revealed two years ago to have been one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders, might have sexually abused dead bodies in a hospital where he worked as a volunteer, health investigators said on Thursday.

In 2012 police said Savile, one of the Britain’s best-known celebrities in the 1970s and 1980s, had sexually abused hundreds of victims, mainly youngsters, at hospitals and at BBC premises over six decades until his death aged 84 in 2011.

A series of reports covering 28 hospitals where he had worked Disgraced British entertainer Jimmy Savile is seen arriving at the unveiling of a new showed Savile had used his fame monument, commemorating the fighter pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain, in and charitable work to get unsu- London in this September 18, 2005 file photograph. pervised access to patients, raping and sexually abusing boys, girls, dead, had sexually abused bodies about what happened when it was men and women aged between five in the mortuary of Leeds General quiet at Leeds general Infirmary and 75 in wards, corridors and of- Infirmary in northern England, and said that he went to the mortaking advantage of his role as a tuary at night and played with the fices. bodies, and committed sex acts on “As a nation at that time, we volunteer porter.

“The allegations about his be- them,” Proctor said. held Savile in our affection as a “We have no way of verifying if somewhat eccentric national treas- havior in the mortuary are incredure with a strong commitment ibly harrowing and disturbing,” that was true or not. We do know to charitable causes,” Britain’s Sue Proctor, who led the investiga- his interest in the dead was pretty unwholesome and that the controls Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt tion at Leeds, told reporters.

She said Savile, a one-time around access to the mortuary up told parliament.

“Today’s reports show that in professional wrestler who became to the early 1980s were not robust.”

Two witnesses also told invesreality he was a sickening and pro- famous as a pioneering DJ in the lific sexual abuser who repeatedly 1960s, gave the account of his ac- tigators Savile, famed for his long exploited the trust of a nation for tions at the mortuary to a student blonde hair, penchant for garish nurse who worked at a different outfits and flashy jewellery, wore his own vile purposes.” rings which he said were made hospital.

In one disclosure, it was report“It was a quiet night and Savile from the glass eyes of dead bodies ed that Savile, who had publicly spoken of his fascination with the was talking to this student nurse from his friends at the hospital.

1. Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX No. 1 “Fancy” 2. Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea No. 2 “Problem” 3. John Legend No. 3 “All of Me” 4. DJ Snake & Lil John No. 4 “Turn Down for What” 5. Jason Derulo feat. Snoop Dogg No. 10 “Wiggle” 6. Pharrell Williams No. 5 “Happy” 7. MAGIC! No. 8 “Rude” 8. Nico & Vinz No. 6 “Am I Wrong?”

9. Calvin Harris No. 9 “Summer” 10. Sam Smith No. 19 “In the Lonely Hour”

North Korea’s take on new US movie: ‘act of war’

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea is warning that the release of a new American comedy about a plot to assassinate leader Kim Jong Un would be an ‘‘act of war.’’

If the U.S. government doesn’t block the movie’s release, it will face ‘‘stern’’ and ‘‘merciless’’ retaliation, an unidentified spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in state media.

He didn’t mention the movie by name but was clearly referring to ‘‘The Interview,’’ which stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as a producer and talk-show host who land an exclusive interview with the North Korean dictator and are then asked by the CIA to assassinate him.

The ‘‘reckless U.S. provocative insanity’’ of mobilizing a ‘‘gangster filmmaker’’ to challenge the North’s leadership is triggering ‘‘a gust of hatred and rage’’ among North Korean people and soldiers, the spokesman said, in typically heated propaganda language. The film’s release would be considered an ‘‘act of war that we will never tolerate,’’ he said.

With no independent press of its own, North Korea often holds foreign governments responsible for the content of their media. Pyongyang regularly warns Seoul to prevent its conservative press from mocking or criticizing its leadership, something banned within authoritarian North Korea, where the Kim family is revered.

TOP 10 MUSIC ALBUMS

A figure of Transformer is displayed on top of a pier outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Hong Kong June 18, 2014, where the world premiere of Transformers: Age of Extinction will be held on Thursday.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” will debut in Hong Kong cinemas on Thursday, where audiences are waiting to see giant shape shifting aliens try to destroy their city.

The film, the fourth based on the Transformers franchise, is expected to become one of the highestgrossing movies of 2014, with the three prior films generating $2.7 billion in ticket sales at global box offices.

The series performed particularly well in China, which is now the world’s second-largest film market, and Paramount Pictures took steps to appeal to Chinese audiences with its latest installment.

Filming took place in Hong Kong and three mainland cities including scenes at the Great Wall.

Chinese actress Li Bingbing was cast in the film, and four smaller parts were filled by actors chosen from a Chinese TV reality show.

Last Thursday, the blockbuster had its grand global premiere in Hong Kong, the first Hollywood movie to do so in this Asian financial hub. Director Michael Bay and his star-studded cast, including Mark Wahlberg, Kelsey Grammer and Stanley Tucci, braved a short torrential downpour to walk the red carpet.

After that, they went to Shanghai, where “Transformers 4” was chosen to close a local film festival.

“Ensuring we have the best movie for Asia and for China is definitely part of the strategy,” said Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount Pictures.

A day after its debut in Hong Kong, the movie will be released worldwide.

1. Miranda Lambert new entry “Platinum” 2. Soundtrack No. 4 “Frozen” 3. Brantley Gilbert No. 2 “Just as I Am” 4. 50 Cent new entry “Animal Ambition: An Untamed Desire to Win” 5. Coldplay No. 1 “Ghost Stories” 6. Various Artists No. 6 “Now 50” 7. Led Zeppelin re-entry “Led Zeppelin” 8. Soundtrack No. 18 “The Fault in Our Stars” 9. Led Zeppelin re-entry “Led Zeppelin II” 10. Led Zeppelin re-entry “Led Zeppelin III”

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Brewster Rockit by Tim Rickard

Drabble by Kevin Fagan Dilbert Classics by Scott Adams

Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis

Reality Check by Dave Whamond

Henry Payne by Henry Payne

In the Bleachers by Steve Moore

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FUN & GAMES

Answer Block

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FUN & GAMES

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NEWS

BEC chief denies claim of stolen electricity

BAHAMAS Electricity Corporation Executive Chairman Leslie Miller said yesterday that an image of an outstanding electricity bill in his name that was circulating on the Internet yesterday was “manufactured”.

His comments came after an image of a bill, reportedly belonging to a family member of his, surfaced on social media. The image – a screen shot of a computer screen purportedly inside BEC – showed a bill of $17,683.13. The bill is dated June 18.

Speaking with The Tribune, Mr Miller said the “so called bill” was manufactured “just like the Princess Margaret Hospital (letter) for Dame Marguerite Pindling”.

When asked if he intended to launch an investigation into the source of the bill, Mr Miller said it would not make sense.

“This again? When will these people stop? There is no bill. They will do what they want to do, make up what they want to make up, I can’t be bothered with it.

I don’t intend to do anything, there is nothing I can do,” BEC Chairman Leslie Miller he said when contacted for comment.

“This is unethical and today it’s me, tomorrow it – to explain the source of the $100,000 cash payment. could be anyone, but we will never find out who is Until he is able to explain himself the money should be doing this. One person will cover up for the next. When returned. And no, money is not money,” Mr Cash said. this happened last year, we thought we had them, but Mr Cash also questioned if police are investigating it was a waste of time. This is total garbage. They allegations of irregular electricity hookups at the could do what they want to me, I don’t care.”

Summer Winds Plaza, which is owned by Mr Miller.

Mr Miller has said he is being attacked by He called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to give a disgruntled BEC employees and union leaders who full account of what he knows about the allegations. have launched an “all out war against him” in an effort Mr Miller has denied “assisting anyone in getting to have him fired because he is trying to make changes free electricity” and facilitating irregular hookups at at the corporation. his Summer Winds Plaza complex.

Last week, it was revealed that Mr Miller and one Earlier this week documents began circulating of his family-owned businesses owed the corporation a on the Internet, claiming that Mr Miller allowed the total of $239,533.33.

End Zone Sporting Lounge to have an illegal direct A few days later, $100,000 was paid on a bill for his connection. The sporting lounge is located in the family’s Harrold Road bowling alley.

Summer Winds Plaza.

In a press statement released yesterday, FNM However, when contacted by The Tribune, Mr Chairman Darron Cash questioned the source of the Miller said the moment he discovered the sporting $100,000 cash that was used to pay the bowling alley’s lounge was hooked up illegally, he spoke with the bill. owner and told him the problem needed to be resolved “The chairman has yet – as far as we understand immediately.

Antigua opposition will boycott first sitting of Parliament ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) says it will boycott the first sitting of the new Parliament since the June 12 general election after claiming that it had not been given adequate notice of the sitting.

Parliament is due to meet later on Wednesday to elect a Speaker as well as a Deputy Speaker and for legislators to take their oath of office. But UPP leader and former prime minister Baldwin Spencer said that he had only been informed of the sitting on Monday.

Spencer has written to the Clerk of Parliament, Ramona Small, indicating that the opposition would not be present at the sitting.

“I wish formally to inform that a sitting of the House requires, by Standing Order 8(4), at least seven days notice which must be given by your good self.

“In the circumstance, it would be unreasonable to expect us to participate in the sitting of Parliament, which on its face is unconstitutional, illegal and in breach of the Standing Orders of Parliament,” Spencer wrote.

Shanique Myrie paid

by Barbados Government

AFTER a frustrating eight-month wait, Shanique Myrie has finally been paid by the Barbadian Government. However, the money is short of B$1,000, Myrie told the Jamaica Observer.

Myrie was awarded damages in the sum of US$38,000 by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) after she filed a lawsuit claiming she was subjected to a dehumanizing cavity search by a female immigration officer at Grantley Adams International Airport, locked in a filthy room overnight and deported to Jamaica in March 2011.

“My lawyer called me this morning (Monday) and told me the money was in the account. It was a long wait but finally it is over,” Myrie told the Jamaica Observer.

The CCJ had also ruled that Barbados should foot the bill of Myrie’s legal costs and said the action was a serious breach of her right of entry into that country.

Last week, a frustrated Myrie threatened to file another complaint before the court after the award was not paid, despite promises from Barbadian officials.

Before that, Foreign Affairs Minister AJ Nicholson announced in Parliament that the onus was on Myrie and her legal team, and not on the Jamaican Government, to ensure that Barbados complied with the judgement.

On Friday, Barbados’ Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite told the media in the eastern Caribbean state that the money had been paid over but late Friday evening Myrie said the payment did not show up in her lawyer’s account.

Her plight was brought to international attention after the Observer reported her ordeal.

She had also complained that she was subjected to derogatory remarks from the female official who told her she was her ‘worst nightmare’.

United States slams Guyana’s efforts to curb human trafficking GEORGETOWN, Guyana - The United States government has again listed Guyana among countries not doing enough to curb trafficking in persons, and suggested it was an unwilling partner in the effort.

“Guyana is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor. Guyanese and foreign women and girls – including from Venezuela, Suriname, and Brazil – are subjected to prostitution in Guyana,” the June 2014 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report said.

This latest report, again labeling Guyana a human trafficking nation, was released Friday, but there has so far been no comment from Government.

In the report, Guyana has retained its position on a Tier Two Watch List, meaning, “The absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing”. Additionally the country is in danger of being downgraded

to Tier Three, which states that government is not rendering sufficient response to the TIP problem.

Tier Two is a rank held by Guyana for some years, briefly relieved when the administration enacted legislation aimed at countering this violation of human rights, but the country was returned to the Tier Two Watch List owing to a lack of follow-up action after passage of the new laws.

“The government made limited progress in holding traffickers accountable.

The Combating Trafficking of Persons Act of 2005 prohibits all forms of trafficking and prescribes sufficiently stringent penalties, ranging from three years’ to life imprisonment,” the US TIP report stated.

“Guyana has an adequate trafficking law and achieved three trafficking convictions during the reporting period; however, all three convicted traffickers were released on bail pending the appeal of their convictions.

The Government of Guyana did not

provide information regarding the basis on which the defendants sought to appeal their convictions or on which the court determined to grant them bail,” The report states.

Not only has the US State Department slammed Guyana for a lack of implementation of TIP laws, but it was also critical of the administration’s lack of cooperation with other agencies seeking to rid the country of TIP. “The government made minimal efforts to prevent trafficking. The government’s ministerial taskforce was designated to monitor and assess the government’s anti-trafficking efforts, but it did not report any results. A leading NGO that has played a significant role in rescuing trafficking victims requested to be one of the partners on the ministerial anti-trafficking taskforce; however the taskforce has yet to grant this request despite this organization’s critical role in the protection of victims,” the TIP 2014 report stated.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

US remains silent on Bahamas spying NASSAU, Bahamas – The government of The Bahamas is still awaiting an official response from the United States over the allegations that its National Security Agency (NSA) is recording and archiving every cell phone conversation in The Bahamas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell said on Sunday.

Mitchell had said that the government was expected to receive a report from the US Department of State last week addressing the claim.

However, he said on Sunday that there is no new information.

“The generic response is that they are waiting for their other agencies to

report in or something of that nature,” and one other country, revealed to be Afghanistan by WikiLeaks founder he said when contacted for comment.

“But I don’t want to put any more Julian Assange.

In the past several weeks, Mitchell speculation on it. They said that they will have an answer and I suppose has raised the matter with the they will have an answer. But in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meantime we are doing our own due and the Organization of American States (OAS). diligence here.”

He said on Sunday that the United The allegations were first reported on May 19 and were based on documents States continues to give “generic leaked by former NSA analyst Edward answers” and said the public will Snowden. The story was originally continue to be informed as “we get the generic answers from them, whatever reported by The Intercept website.

According to the documents, the NSA answers they give”.

“There is a new chargé (d’affaires) is using a program called SOMALGET to store and collect full take audio coming into The Bahamas in a couple of cell phone calls in The Bahamas of days, so we will tackle the question

Call For Nottage to apologise over crime statistics

BAHAMAS – FNM Deputy Chairman Dr Duane Sands said yesterday he believes National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage should apologise for not painting an accurate picture of the country’s crime problem when he gave crime statistics in the House of Assembly last week.

Newly released crime statistics show that up to June 10, the murder rate across the Bahamas rose by nine per cent compared to the same period last year.

Last week during his contribution to the annual budget debate, Dr Nottage announced that crime is generally trending downward. He said the period of January 1 to June 10 showed a four per cent decrease in murder in New Providence compared to the same period last year.

While Dr Nottage did note that the country had recorded 62 murders at the time of his presentation on June 18, he did not indicate the national rise in the murder rate of nine per cent. Nor did he mention that as of June 10, Grand Bahama’s murder rate had doubled compared to the same period last year.

Crime statistics up to June 10 also show that there have also been two cases of manslaughter, compared to none recorded for 2013.

Dr Sands said the context of Dr Nottage’s speech shows that he was

Dr Bernard Nottage trying to reassure Bahamians that murder was down.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to play these games in order to make a statement to reassure the public that the government is fighting crime,” Dr Sands said. “Yes, the statistics may show that murder is down in New Providence. But you are not only speaking to the people of New Providence, but the Bahamas as a

whole. I seriously doubt that it was an accidental decision.”

The FNM deputy chairman also criticised recent statements from State Minister for National Security Keith Bell.

On Tuesday Mr Bell told The Tribune that he hopes that by 2016, as a result of policies being implemented by the government, the country would see a murder rate of 40 maximum.

“Well, they say faith without works is dead,” Dr Sands said. “I’m sure that all Bahamians hope that the murder count would decrease. However, it was this same government who, while on the campaign trail, made it seem as though the high murder rate was directly due to the FNM. It’s interesting to see now how their rhetoric has changed.”

Dr Sands said he is sure the Progressive Liberal Party now regrets putting up billboards in 2012 highlighting 400 plus murders under the Ingraham administration.

“At some point in time, not only these ministers, but the entire PLP Cabinet should admit to the Bahamian people that what they did was a mistake,” Dr. Sands said, speaking of what he calls the PLP’s false crime relief promises.

“Clearly they don’t have the solutions they promised. So now, according to them, crime should no longer be talked about. Ain’t that something.”

afresh if it is not resolved,” he said.

“We’re not alone in this; you have the Germans, the Brazilians, everybody is in the same thing, and I believe the Americans themselves are trying to figure out how to actually deal with it.

That’s my impression.”

According to the NSA documents, the agency reported most on The Bahamas during the four-month period leading up to the May 7, 2012, general election when compared to other reporting periods.

The leaked documents state that The Bahamas is a “test bed for system deployments, capabilities and improvements”.

Mother in court for prostituting her daughter KINGSTON, Jamaica – A woman accused of prostituting her 13-yearold daughter was remanded when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

She is to return to court on July 14.

Forty-two-year-old domestic helper Audrey Gordon has been charged with human trafficking and cruelty to a child.

The Crown alleges that Gordon and her daughter were cast into the streets by the mother’s boyfriend, forcing them to live in abandoned buildings and to beg food from strangers.

The 13-year-old, who is the complainant in the matter, subsequently formed relationships with three different men.

The child would be picked up by them and taken to undisclosed locations where they would have sex with her.

They would give her money, which she would then give to her mother, after informing her that she had slept with them.

The minor reported that sometimes when the men came to pick her up, her mother would speak to them and allow her to leave with them knowing that they were taking her to have sex.

On May 21, a concerned citizen reported the matter to the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse and the accused was arrested and charged.

Haiti records nearly 40,000 chikungunya cases

Haiti has recorded nearly 40,000 cases of chikungunya, according to figures released Friday by the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP).

It said that as a result of the 39,343 cases of the mosquito borne disease, MSPP officials met with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO-WHO), UNICEF, the Embassy of Taiwan and other organizations to determine what assistance could be given to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

PAHO-WHO, through its representative, Dr. Jean Luc Poncelet, has donated three million doses of paracetamol for the management of patients with the Chikungunya epidemic, while Taiwan said it would provide US$100,000 to support the fight against the virus.

On June 13, PAHO reported that there were 12,000 chikungunya cases in Haiti.

The mosquito-borne illness was first detected in the Caribbean in December 2013, in St Martin, and to date the virus has been confirmed in

Anguilla, Aruba, Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Barthelemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Maarten (Dutch) and St Martin (French).

The Trinidad-based has said the chikunguyna virus has reached epidemic proportions in the Caribbean.

Symptoms include a sudden high fever, severe pain in the wrists, ankles or knuckles, muscle pain, headache, nausea, and rash. Joint pain and stiffness are more common

The mosquito-borne illness was first detected in the Caribbean in 2013. with chikungunya than with dengue.

The symptoms appear between four to seven days after the bite of an infected mosquito.

The majority of clinical signs and symptoms last three to 10 days, but joint pain may persist longer. Severe cases requiring hospitalisation are rare.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Jamaica getting tough on supplements The Jamaica government says it is pondering new laws to tackle the illegal importation of banned substances as the country continues its effort to recover from a doping scandal that has tainted the island’s athletics programme.

Minister with responsibility for Sports, Natalie Neita Headley, made the announcement in Parliament Tuesday night amid an increase in the number of Jamaican athletes testing positive for banned substances.

“Legislation is being considered to address the illegal importation of banned supplements,” Neita Headley told the parliament.

“Let me admonish coaches,

administrators and athlete-support personnel that they are equally culpable if they are found guilty of providing banned substances to junior athletes.”

Top Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson were among those who tested positive for an illegal substance last year.

They have both appealed their suspension and have since been allowed to compete pending the outcome of the appeal hearing.

Powell’s case will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on July 7 and 8.

“Sport supplements have also been found to contain ingredients that are

not stated on labels and some have been linked to the cause of death among athletes worldwide,” the minister disclosed.

“Given the recent increase in the number of Jamaican athletes who returned adverse analytical findings in the last year, I must take this opportunity to once again encourage our athletes, juniors and seniors, to avoid adopting this trend of reliance on supplements and to focus instead on building a diet based on good nutrition and healthy practices.”

Neita Headley told the parliament that in an effort to help athletes sidestep problems associated the use

of supplements the 2013 list of banned drugs was produced in late March with one thousand copies printed and 500 copies distributed to clubs and federations.

A medical declaration card was created and 150 copies were printed for distribution to the athletes who were selected for the 2013 IAAF World championships.

A partnership has been established with the Canadian centre for ethics in Sport and the Jamaica Anti- Doping Commission (Jadco) to help Jamaica’s anti-doping programme meet the full requirements of the 2015 World AntiDoping code by January 1 next year.

Vincentians expected to benefit from Schengen visa waiver in early 2015 St. Vincent and the Grenadines Foreign Minister Camillo Gonsalves says the process to allow nationals to travel to 27 countries in Europe is taking longer than expected and the initiative could become a reality early next year.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among countries approved at the level of European Parliament, to have Schengen visa waiver, but Gonsalves told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that “they (Europe) have to take various bureaucratic steps to authorize their foreign affairs people to negotiate with St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the other approved countries in terms of a reciprocal visa waiver”.

He said the process has taken longer than expected since originally only a number of island states were being considered for visa-free waiver.

“But various special interest within the European government starting adding additional countries,” Gonsalves said, noting that Columbia was among those countries added.

“In adding Columbia, it causes some other members of the European parliament to take a second look at the process, because we were being advanced as a group, and they had concerns about visa-free migration from Columbia that they didn’t have for visa-free migration from, say, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Gonsalves said there’s still need for negotiations on the reciprocal visa waiver to be started.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among countries approved at the level of European Parliament to have Schengen visa waiver.

“Until they get that on the European side, we can’t sign off on a visa-free waiver,” Gonsalves said, noting that there were other countries in the Caribbean that already have Schengen waiver.

“And we intend, if it is acceptable to the Europeans, to use their visa waiver document. So, we will change the name ‘Barbados’ to ‘St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ and sign, essentially, the same document, because we already don’t have a problem with most Europeans coming to St. Vincent and the Grenadines as tourists,” Gonsalves said.

He said the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) representation in Brussels has indicated that everything should be completed “in terms of them approving, us negotiating and signing the arrangement” by early next year.

“Originally, they were saying the middle of next year; now, they are saying the first quarter of next year,” Gonsalves said, adding “in my conversation with European ambassadors that have come to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, some of them seem slightly more optimistic that it would take less time”.

Chikungunya cases in St Lucia spiral out of control

St. Lucia health authorities have reported that the mosquito-borne disease, Chikungunya, has now spiraled out of control, affecting persons in all 17 constituencies on the 238-square-mile island.

Surveillance Officer within the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Michelle Francois, has confirmed that almost all communities in St Lucia have been affected.

Though not stating the specific number of individuals confirmed to have the virus in St. Lucia, Francois said there are more cases on the ground than those that have reached hospitals and community health

centres.

She disclosed that the Caribbean Public Health Agency has mandated the ministry to test only persons presenting chikungunya symptoms who have been hospitalised, are pregnant and/or are very sick.

“Although we are not testing everyone …the confirmed numbers that we are seeing will always be less than what is on the ground,” she said.

Francois said the ministry anticipated the spike in the spread of chikungunya simply because the local population does not have immunity to the virus.

“So [based on] the mere fact that

the public did not have immunity, we did expect the numbers to rise as more and more people get exposed to the virus and with our high indices of mosquitoes,” she said.

Unlike Dengue, Chikungunya can be contracted by an individual only once, since it gives lifelong immunity.

Francois said the ministry has been trying to keep the spread under control through various measures, including public awareness programmes.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) reported that as of June 20 there are 183,761 suspected cases of chikungunya in the Caribbean.

Lawyers: UN head served papers in suit by Haiti cholera victims Lawyers for the Haitian plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the United Nations say Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been served with papers ordering him to appear in court, but the UN is denying it.

The UN had been resisting lawsuits from Haiti cholera victims who claim that UN peacekeepers caused the 2010 epidemic that is still ravaging the Frenchspeaking Caribbean country.

“This is a significant development in the fight to hold the United Nations responsible for the tragic events in Haiti,” said Stanley N. Alpert, one of the lawyers representing more than 1,500 Haitians who have filed a suit against Ban and the United Nations in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, New York.

The suit is seeking compensation, which could theoretically run into billions of dollars.

But Ban’s spokesman Farhan Haq denied that the secretary general saw the papers which an unidentified person had tried to give him as he was walking towards the Asia Society on Manhattan’s East Side on Friday morning to deliver a speech.

Haq said one of Ban’s security aides intervened and declined to accept them.

Cholera has killed more than 8,300 Haitians since it first appeared in the country.

Forensic studies, including one ordered by the United Nations, have identified the cholera bacteria as an Asian strain carried by Nepalese members of a United Nations peacekeeping force there, the New York Times reported.

United Nations officials have described the epidemic as an enormous tragedy and have set up a fund to help but have said the organization bears no legal responsibility for causing it.

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NEWS

Charlie Rangel rebuffs primary challenger to win 23rd House term Rep. Charlie Rangel of New York likely won himself a 23rd term in Congress Tuesday night, despite an ethics scandal that’s caused some Democratic politicians to keep their distance, and a recent shake up of the boundaries of his district that has shifted his constituency to be majority Hispanic, instead of African American.

The 84 year-old Harlem powerhouse beat his main primary challenger, state senator Adriano Espaillat by 3 percentage points, the AP reported Wednesday afternoon. The city will continue to count outstanding absentee ballots next week, but it appears Espaillat cannot win even if they go his way. (The state senator says he won’t concede until every vote has been counted.)

The pair was at times neck and neck in polls in the 13th district, and Rangel appeared to sweat it on the campaign trail. He told reporters Monday that he would cry himself to sleep if Espaillat pulled off a victory.

But no tears were to be found at Rangel’s victory party, which was held in an orange high school gym in East Harlem. Around 11:15 pm, the Congressman took the stage and shouted from the podium to various political advisers in the crowd, asking them if they thought it would be premature to declare victory with less than 90 percent of precincts reporting.

He stayed on stage 45 minutes

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., center, raises his arms with Adam Clinton Powell IV, left, as he claims victory over opponent state Sen. Adriano Espaillat during a primary election night gathering, Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in New York. after the advisers told him to hold off on the victory dance. At times his rambling chatting – a good chunk of it about the recent addition of green taxi cabs for New York City neighborhoods outside of Manhattan – was inaudible over the din of the crowd. The stage almost collapsed under the weight of Rangel’s entourage, prompting the politician to ask his heavier supporters to step aside.

He also took a few subtle jabs at Espaillat, even before it appeared

Man arrested after bodies found in suitcases WEST ALLIS, Wis. – Detectives wearing hazmat suits have removed bags of evidence and a refrigerator from the suburban Milwaukee apartment of a man arrested in connection with two suitcases found stuffed with the remains of two women.

The 52-year-old security officer was arrested Wednesday, but he has not been charged in the deaths.

The Town of Geneva Police Chief Steven Hurley said in a news release that the man was arrested in connection with the killing of Laura Simonson, 37, of Farmington, Minnesota, whose body was discovered June 5 in a suitcase discarded along a rural road in Town of Geneva.

Authorities have not identified the remains of the second female but say she was a white female with long dark hair, a pronounced overbite and a small heart tattoo on her lower left abdomen.

Investigators searched the man’s West Allis apartment Wednesday and carried out objects in large, brown paper bags.

Simonson’s father, Richard Wierson, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that his daughter had placed escort ads on CraigsList.

likely he had won the race. “None of us are gloating about this election,” Rangel said. “I should congratulate Adriano [Espaillat] for doing the best with what he had to work with.”

Earlier this month, Rangel came under fire for suggesting Espaillat campaigned primarily on his Dominican Republican heritage. “What the heck has he done, besides saying he’s a Dominican?” Rangel asked at a debate.

Iraq helicopter crashes in airborne commando assault on Tikrit

Iraqi forces launched an airborne assault on rebel-held Tikrit on Thursday with commandos flown into a stadium in helicopters, at least one of which crashed after taking fire from insurgents who have seized northern cities.

Eyewitnesses said battles were raging in the city, hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein, which fell to Sunni Islamist fighters two weeks ago on the third day of a lightning offensive that has given them control of most majority Sunni regions.

The helicopters were shot at as they flew low over the city and landed in a stadium at the city’s university, a security source at the scene said. Government spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment and by evening the assault was still not being reported on state media.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said fierce clashes ensued, centred around the university compound.

Ahmed al-Jubbour, professor at the university’s college of agriculture, described fighting in the colleges of agriculture and sports education after three helicopters arrived.

“I saw one of the helicopters land opposite the university with my own eyes and I saw clashes between dozens of militants and government forces,” he said.

Jubbour said one helicopter crash landed in the stadium. Another left after dropping off troops and a third remained on the ground. Army snipers were positioning themselves on tall buildings in the university complex.

Iraq’s million-strong army, trained and equipped by the United States, largely evaporated in the north after Sunni fighters led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant launched their assault with the capture of the north’s biggest city Mosul on June 10.

But in recent days, government forces have been fighting back, relying on elite commandos flown in by helicopter to defend the country’s biggest oil refinery at Baiji.

Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks acquitted LONDON – She rose from being a secretary in Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper empire to running it.

She called prime ministers her friends.

Then she found herself in the middle of one of the most riveting trials in years, accused of illegally intercepting voice mails and other crimes, alongside her husband and her former deputy, who it turned out, was also her lover.

And on Tuesday, in the latest twist in her extraordinary saga, Rebekah Brooks, the protagonist of Britain’s phone hacking trial, who more than any other defendant had come to symbolize the freewheeling tabloid press and its proximity to power, was acquitted of all charges against her. That single conviction belied the outsize impact of a yearslong saga that produced parliamentary hearings, humbled Mr. Murdoch, led to a new media law and spurred a cleanup of the worst practices in tabloid newsrooms.

The trial embarrassed many in Britain’s media and political establishment, inducing additional political heartburn for Mr. Cameron, who on Tuesday apologized publicly for hav-

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie Brooks leave their home after making a statement recently in London, England. ing hired Mr. Coulson as one of his top aides in 2007. Testimony in the trial revealed that former Prime Minister Tony Blair offered to act as an “unofficial adviser” to Ms. Brooks after she was implicated in the case.

Tense and at times tawdry, the trial

has also exposed in great detail the inner workings of British tabloid journalism – the six-figure price tags paid for celebrity scoops, the scavenging in trash cans and the systematic eavesdropping on the cellphones of celebrities, sports stars, politicians, members of the royal family and others caught up in the news.

Ms. Brooks and Mr. Coulson, both 46, were close colleagues and friends who rose from scrappy tabloid newsrooms to become members of the London elite. Part of the prosecution’s case was that their relationship was so intimate that they would have shared what they knew about how their newspapers were operating, including the phone hacking. But in the jury room, their parallel careers diverged with finality.

He was found to have admitted enough knowledge of what was going on that he could be convicted on at least one charge of conspiracy to intercept cellphone calls and messages. She apparently managed to convince the jury that she was sufficiently removed from it that it was possible she was unaware.

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WORLD NEWS

Turkey submits bill to boost Kurdish peace process

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara.

Turkey’s government sent a bill Abdullah Ocalan in 2012 in a bid to to parliament on Thursday giving its end a 30-year-old insurgency which peace process with Kurdish militants has killed 40,000 people.

“We are nearing the stage when a legal framework, a step that may boost support for Prime Minister these problems are solved, violence Tayyip Erdogan before an August ends, people put down their weapons and come down from the mountains to presidential election.

The bill was long sought by pro- return to normal social life,” Deputy Kurdish politicians, partly to remove Prime Minister Besir Atalay said after the risk of those involved in the submission of the bill.

The draft law protects anyone talks being prosecuted if the political climate in Turkey turned against the involved in the talks from prosecution over the insurgency by Ocalan’s process in the future.

Ankara began peace talks with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). jailed Kurdish militant leader It also makes it the government’s

responsibility to rehabilitate militants who lay down their weapons.

The bill was presented less than a week before the ruling AK Party announces its candidate – widely expected to be Erdogan – for Turkey’s first direct presidential election, due in August.

Kurds account for around a fifth of Turkey’s population, and their support would help Erdogan’s bid.

However opinion polls indicate he may not even need broad Kurdish support to win the necessary majority.

Malaysia jet most likely on autopilot when it crashed, Australia says

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 was most likely on autopilot when it crashed into the Indian Ocean further south than previously thought, Australian officials said on Thursday, as they charted the next phase of a so far fruitless search.

The new analysis comes more than 100 days after the Boeing 777, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared on March 8 shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing.

Investigators say what little evidence they have to work with suggests the plane was deliberately diverted thousands of kilometres from its scheduled route before eventually plunging into the Indian Ocean.

The search was narrowed in April after a series of acoustic pings thought to be from the plane’s black box recorders were heard along a final arc where analysis of satellite data put its last location.

But a month later, officials conceded the wreckage was not in that concentrated area, some 1,600 km (1,000 miles) off the northwest coast of Australia, and the search area would have to be expanded.

“The new priority area is still focused on the seventh arc, where the aircraft last communicated with satellite. We are now shifting our attention to an area further south along the arc,” Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss told reporters in Canberra.

Truss said the area was determined after a review of satellite data, early radar information and aircraft performance limits after the plane diverted across the Malaysian peninsula and headed south into one of the remotest areas of the planet.

“It is highly, highly likely that the aircraft was on autopilot otherwise it

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss confirms flight was on autopilot could not have followed the orderly path that has been identified through the satellite sightings,” Truss said.

The next phase of the search is expected to start in August and take a year, covering some 60,000 sq km at a cost of A$60 million ($56 million) or more. The search is already the most expensive in aviation history.

The new priority search area is around 2,000 km west of Perth, a stretch of isolated ocean frequently lashed by storm force winds and massive swells.

In a 55-page report, the Australian Transport Safety Board outlined a how investigators had narrowed down

the possible final resting place from thousands of possible routes, while noting the absence of communications and the steady flight path.

“Given these observations, the final stages of the unresponsive crew/hypoxia event type appeared to best fit the available evidence for the final period of MH370’s flight when it was heading in a generally southerly direction,” the ATSB report said.

Two vessels, one Chinese and one from Dutch engineering company Fugro, are currently mapping the sea floor along the arc, where depths exceed 5,000 metres in parts.

Meriam Ibrahim freed again after rearrest A Sudanese Christian woman whose death sentence for apostasy was overturned has been freed again after being detained on accusations of forging travel documents.

Eman Abdul-Rahman, the lawyer for 27-year-old Meriam Ibrahim, said she had been released from a police station after foreign diplomats pressed the government to free her.

She was detained along with her husband and two small children, one born behind bars, at Khartoum’s airport on Tuesday while trying to leave the country with her family.

Ibrahim, whose father was Muslim but who was raised by her Christian mother, was convicted of apostasy for marrying a Christian man from southern Sudan in a church ceremony in 2011.

As in many Muslim nations, Muslim women in Sudan are prohibited from marrying nonMuslims, though Muslim men can marry outside their faith.

By law, children must follow their father’s religion.

Sudan’s penal code forbids Muslims from converting to other religions, a crime punishable by death.

The sentence drew international condemnation, with Amnesty International calling it abhorrent.

The US state department said it was “deeply disturbed” by the sentence and called on the Sudanese government to respect religious freedoms.

Cameron to threaten EU with ‘consequences’ if Juncker appointed David Cameron will threaten the asked Dominic Grieve whether he could minister without portfolio, angered European Union with “consequences” use the “Luxembourg compromise” to senior Conservatives by downplaying if Jean-Claude Juncker is appointed block a vote on appointing Mr Juncker their concerns.

The Prime Minister believes that president of the European Commission. to the EU’s top job, by insisting that As European leaders prepare to Britain’s vital national interests would Mr Juncker, an arch-federalist, will make it impossible to reform Britain’s meet in Ypres and the diplomatic battle be damaged.

A source said that the Government relationship with the EU ahead of an enters its final stages, it emerged that the Prime Minister has been warned “examined all conceivable options” but in-out referendum in 2017.

But Mr Clarke told the BBC that by his Attorney General that there is was told the Luxembourg compromise, no legal way to avert a humiliating a rarely-used device that lets member while Mr Juncker was “not the most states defer European Union decisions, vigorous reformer”, he was not an defeat.

Mr Cameron is understood to have “is not applicable”. Kenneth Clarke, the “arch-villain”. “No one knows what he’s

supposed to have done wrong,” Mr Clarke added.

Mr Cameron will attend a tense dinner alongside European leaders including Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister this evening .

The Prime Minister is angry that his counterparts, including Mrs Merkel, had assured him privately that they supported his position before publicly offering Mr Juncker their support.

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WORLD NEWS

Utah gay marriage ban declared unconstitutional by appeals court UNITED STATES, Utah – A federal appeals court issued a historic ruling on Wednesday, finding for the first time that same-sex marriage is constitutionally protected in a decision that is expected to bring the issue closer to the US supreme court.

The 2-1 ruling, by the 10th circuit court of appeals, upheld a lower court ruling that struck down Utah’s gay marriage ban and gives a boost to a growing momentum of legal victories by advocates for same-sex marriage.

The Utah attorney general’s office said it will appeal the decision to the US supreme court.

Some 16 federal judges have issued rulings in favour of gay marriage. But Wednesday’s ruling represents the first time a federal appeal court has ruled on the issue since last summer’s landmark ruling against the Defense of Marriage Act (Doma) and California’s same-sex marriage ban. The legal precedent the appeal court set will apply to same sex marriage in all six states in the

10th circuit, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma as well as Utah, but the judge issued a stay, blocking it from taking effect, pending appeal.

It was immediately hailed as an “extremely exciting” victory by campaigners for same-sex marriage, who said that the Utah case could now potentially reach the supreme court.

“Courts do not sit in judgment of the hearts and minds of citizens,” said the 10th US circuit court of appeals majority

after ruling that “a state may not deny the issuance of a marriage license to two persons, or refuse to recognize their marriage, based solely upon the sex of the persons in the marriage union.”

The appeal court’s ruling upheld a federal judge’s decision in December 2013 that a 2004 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

The ruling came moments after another federal judge in a lower courtstruck down Indiana’s ban on gay marriage.

Nigeria: Abuja bomb blast in Wuse district kills 21

NIGERIA, Abuja – At least 21 people have died after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

The blast came as Nigerians were preparing to watch their country’s Super Eagles play Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil. Many shops at the mall have TV screens but it was unclear if the explosion was timed to coincide with the match, which started an hour later.

Witnesses said body parts were scattered around the exit to Emab Plaza, in Abuja’s upmarket Wuse 11 suburb.

Billows of black smoke could be seen from a mile away.

“I heard the explosion and [felt] the building shaking,” said Shuaibu Baba, who had a narrow escape. He said he rushed downstairs to find that the driver who had dropped him a few minutes earlier was dead. “I asked the driver to come with me, and he said ‘No,’ he would wait for me in the car.”

Police superintendent Frank Mba said 17 people were wounded and 21 bodies were recovered. He also said one suspect has been arrested and investigations have already started.

The government urged calm and said it is doing everything possible “to check the activities of insurgents”.

One witness said he thought the bomb was dropped at the entrance to the mall by a motorcyclist, but Mba said it was too early to say.

It is the latest in a series of violent attacks blamed on Islamic extremists.

Nigerian security forces appear incapable of curtailing the near-daily attacks concentrated in the north-east, where Boko Haram extremists have their stronghold.

Abuja is in the centre of Nigeria and the militants have spread their attacks to the capital. Two separate explosions in Abuja

John Sawers the head of M16 is seen attending an Intelligence and Security Committee hearing at Parliament last year.

Britain’s foreign spy master to step down A picture of Mubarak Bala released by the International Humanist and Ethical Union. in April killed more than 120 people and wounded about 200 at a busy bus station.

Both were claimed by Boko Haram, which has threatened further attacks.

A bomb at a medical college in Kano killed at least eight people on Monday.

Last week, at least 14 died in a bomb blast at a World Cup viewing site in Damaturu, a state capital in the north-east. In May, twin car bombs in the central city of Jos left more than 130 people dead, and a car bomb at a bus station killed 24 people in the Christian quarter of Kano, a Muslim city.

Boko Haram attracted international condemnation for the mass abductions in April of more than 200 schoolgirls, and is blamed for this week’s abductions of another 91 people – 31 boys and 60 girls and women.

Nigeria’s military and government claim to be winning the war in the five-year

insurgency but the tempo and deadliness of attacks has increased this year, killing more than 2,000 people so far compared to an estimated 3,600 killed over the past four years.

Abuja residents were urged to remain calm and go about their normal business by government spokesman Mike Omeri, who issued a statement saying that security agencies are “handling the situation”.

“Every step is being taken by the government to check the activities of insurgents in the country,” he said, advising Nigerians “to remain vigilant and conscious of movement of unidentified people”.

Boko Haram wants to install an Islamic state in Nigeria, a west African nation whose 170 million people are almost equally divided between Muslims who are dominant in the north and Christians in the south.

One dead and four wounded after Beirut suicide bomb attack LEBANON, Beirut – A suicide bomber has killed himself and wounded at least four security officers at a hotel in Beirut close to the Saudi Arabian embassy, Lebanese security sources have said. It is the third blast to have gone off in Lebanon in less than one week.

The Saudi bomber blew himself up on Wednesday when he was approached by security officers near the Duroy hotel,

about 20 metres from the embassy in the seaside district of Raouche, the sources said. The embassy was not damaged by the blast.

Television footage showed scores of army officers packing a main street filled with emergency vehicles.

Security services arrested another suspected Saudi militant and are pursuing a third whose nationality was

not immediately known, the sources said.

Lebanon has suffered a wave of sectarian violence linked to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

On Monday night, a suicide bomber blew up his car near an army checkpoint in the city, killing himself and a security officer.

Three days earlier, the head of Lebanon’s general security service narrowly escaped a suicide bombing near the Syrian border.

ENGLAND, London – The chief of Britain’s MI6 foreign intelligence service will step down in November after five years in the job, a government source said on Thursday.

John Sawers, a peer, is believed to have wanted to relinquish his sensitive role as Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service before a national election next year.

He will step down around the same time as the head of Britain’s GCHQ eavesdropping agency leaves his post.

Sawers, 58, made headlines in 2013 when he appeared before a parliamentary committee to complain that documents leaked by former U.S. intelligence operative Edward Snowden had put secret operations at risk and were being “lapped up” by al Qaeda.

MI6 collects intelligence and mounts covert operations overseas to defend national security and support British interests. A quirky tradition means that its chief writes in green ink and is known internally as “C”.

Sawers served as Britain’s permanent representative to the United Nations until his appointment as MI6 chief in 2009. He had previously worked as a foreign policy adviser to former prime minister Tony Blair and in a variety of diplomatic posts.

His successor will be approved by Foreign Secretary William Hague and Prime Minister David Cameron.

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WORLD NEWS

Congo autopsies reveal ‘executions’ in Rwanda clash

Autopsies on five bodies returned

by Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of Congo show they were probably executed, a military source has told the BBC. The bodies were handed over following border clashes between the two countries armies earlier this month.

DR Congo says they began when a corporal was kidnapped by Rwandan soldiers who crossed the border.

Rwanda says the men were killed in combat after they attacked Rwandan soldiers on its territory.

The neighbours have had a fractious relationship since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when those accused of involvement in the killings of an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus set up a militia in eastern DR Congo.

The BBC’s Maud Jullien in DR

Confusion has surrounded the circumstances of the border clashes.

Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, says the autopsy report concluded that the five men who were returned to DR Congo after the clashes had wounds to the head – two inflicted by a sharp object, three by bullets.

It also found that all of the men had been shot several times in other parts of the body, including the thorax and the abdomen, and at close range.

One of the men had been shot eight times in the back.

U.N. appeals to Iran not to execute woman for crime as a teenager

The U.N. human rights chief appealed to Iran on Thursday not to execute a woman convicted of murdering her husband at age 17.

Razieh Ebrahimi, imprisoned in Ahwaz, is among some 160 people thought to be on death row in Iran for crimes committed before they turned 18, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement.

More than 250 people are believed to have been executed in Iran this year, Pillay said.

“The imminent execution of Razieh Ebrahimi has once again brought into stark focus the unacceptable use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders in Iran,” she said.

Ebrahimi was married at 14 and gave birth to a child a year later. She says that her husband subjected her to domestic In April, the execution of a young Iranian man was stayed shortly before by the mother of his victim. violence, according to the statement. She was arrested in 2010.

Dehghani and Jamshed Dehghani - are which the death penalty may be applied “Regardless of the circumstances of the also at imminent risk of execution, Pillay in international law, Pillay said. crime, the execution of juvenile offenders said.

At least 500 people are known to have is clearly prohibited by international They were convicted in 2010 on been executed in Iran in 2013, including human rights law,” said Pillay, a former charges of Moharebeh (enmity against 57 in public, she said. international judge.

President Hassan Rouhani has failed God) and Mofsid fil Arz (corruption on Jannat Mir, a 17-year-old Afghan, earth) after trials that fell short of the to fulfil campaign promises to allow was hanged in April in Isfahan prison international fair trial standards, she greater freedom of expression and there in Iran for drug-related crimes, she said, said. has been a sharp rise in executions since raising concerns about whether he had At least six political prisoners are his election, U.N. Secretary-General a fair trial, because he was said not to among more than 250 people believed Ban Ki-moon said in March. have had access to a lawyer or consular to have been executed in Iran this The U.N. Human Rights Council on services. Five other Afghans were year, while some sources suggested a Thursday called on all states to ensure executed with him for similar offences. that the death penalty is not imposed “considerably higher figure”, she said.

Four “political prisoners” from the Most of the executions were for drug- for crimes committed by under-18s and Kurdish minority - named as Hamed related offences, which do not meet the to work toward abolition of the death Ahmadi, Kamal Malaee, Jahangir threshold of “most serious crimes” for penalty.

A military source in Goma told the BBC it was unlikely that these wounds had been inflicted during combat and it was probable that the men had been executed.

Earlier, DR Congo’s Information Minister Lambert Mende said it was clear from the photographs that the five men, one of whom he says was a Congolese soldier, were executed.

Rwanda’s government said the five were Congolese soldiers who engaged in a fire fight with Rwandan troops in Rwanda’s Busasamana district and that it did not know the exact circumstances of their deaths.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said she was waiting for a regional group of experts – mandated to monitor events on the border – to deliver its investigation into the incident.

Remote-control helicopter containing drugs crashes into prison yard A remote-control helicopter has crashed into an Irish prison yard containing a quantity of drugs for inmates in the jail.

The Irish prison service confirmed on Wednesday that the drugs chopper crash landed in Wheatfield prison on Tuesday.

One inmate is understood to have made it to the crash site, found a quantity of drugs and ingested them before prison officers cordoned off the scene.

The drugs were flown in on a quadcopter, which is flown by remote control and has four rotor blades. The craft banged against a security wire placed over the yard to prevent helicopters with pilots from landing. It then crashed to the ground, sparking a major alert in the prison in the western suburbs of Dublin.

The prisoner who swallowed the drugs has been placed into a solitary cell until they pass through his body.

The remains of the quad copter are now in the hands of the Garda Síochána, who are investigating the incident.

Security wire has been commonplace over Ireland’s maximum security prison yards since the early 1970s. On 31 October 1973 three Provisional IRA prisoners were flown to freedom from Mountjoy prisonafter a helicopter landed in the exercise yard.

Man is locked up after saying he is an atheist A Nigerian man has been incarcerated in a mental health institution by his family after saying he had lost his belief in God. Mubarak Bala, 29, is said to have been forcibly medicated for “insanity” for nearly two weeks, despite a doctor’s opinion that he has no psychological problems.

Campaigners are calling for his release and say the case highlights the fact that atheists are a persecuted minority in many African countries.

Bala’s Twitter account uses the handle “ExMuslim”, and his profile says: “Chemical Process Engineer. I stand for

Truth&Justice. Religion insults human said his atheism was a side-effect of a apostasy, to which the doctor said was a personality change, that everyone conscience &reason, duped me that I personality change.

The family allegedly told the doctor needs a God, that even in Japan they hav another lifetime. AgnosticAtheist.”

He lives in Kano in Nigeria’s that he had also made delusional claims have a God. “And my brother added that all the predominantly Muslim north. The state that he was a “governor” and other adopted sharia law in 2000 and has a “trivial lies”. Bala was subsequently atheists I see have had mental illness strict Islamic police force called the admitted to the Aminu Kano Teaching at some point in their life.”

In a tweet sent on 21 June, he wrote: Hospital on 13 June and has since been Hisbah.

“My neck still hurts, from the strangleWhen Bala told his family that he held there against his will.

He has pleaded to the outside hold of my father, and the beat of uncles had renounced Islam, they took him to a doctor and asked if he was mentally world for help in emails and tweets dislocated my finger and arm, I then got ill, according to the International from several phones smuggled into sedated by me bro.”

It is understood that Bala’s latest Humanist and Ethical Union, which the institution. In one email, he has taken up the case. The doctor said: “And the biggest evidence of my phone has since been confiscated but gave him a clean bill of health, but the mental illness was large blasphemies he has been moved back into the public family turned to a second doctor, who and denial of ‘history’ of Adam, and ward from a private room.

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BUSINESS &

TECHNOLOGY

Action camera-maker GoPro makes pictureperfect debut

Shares of GoPro Inc, a maker of cameras used by surfers, skydivers and other action junkies to record and post their exploits online, rose as much as 38 percent in their market debut.

The company’s shares rose to a high of $33 in early Nasdaqtrading on Thursday, valuing the company that popularized action cameras for consumers at about $4 billion.

GoPro is the first U.S. consumerelectronics company to go public since headphones maker Skullcandy Inc in 2011.

Videos taken using the company’s wearable cameras have made a big splash on the Internet. The company says its videos attracted more than 1 billion views in the first quarter on YouTube, where its channel has 2 million subscribers.

GoPro was founded in 2004 by Nick Woodman, who hit upon the idea while on a surfing trip to Australia. He raised his first funds to develop the camera by selling seashell necklaces along the A GoPro Hero 3+ camera is seen at the Nasdaq Market Site before before GoPro Inc’s IPO in New York City.

California coast.

“There probably hasn’t been a consumer electronics brand as dominant as GoPro has been in its category since the early days of the iPod or the iPad,” Dougherty & Co analyst Charlie Anderson wrote in a note to clients.

Anderson estimates that GoPro has captured more than 90 percent of the action camera market.

Felix Baumgartner’s record-setting 24Google received over 41,000 Google has begun removing mile (39-km) jump from a stratospheric some search results to comply with requests over four days after it put up balloon was captured using a GoPro a European Union ruling upholding an online form allowing Europeans camera. That video has attracted nearly citizens’ right to have objectionable to request that search results be 16 million views on YouTube. personal information about them removed.

Olympic gold medal winning snow Internet privacy concerns shot up hidden in search engines. boarder Shaun White and 11-time world The so-called “right to be forgotten” the agenda last year when former U.S. champion surfer Kelly Slater are among was upheld by Europe’s top court National Security Agency contractor well-known athletes who have endorsed on May 13 when it ordered Google Edward Snowden revealed details the cameras.

(GOOGL.O) to remove a link to a of mass U.S. surveillance program GoPro cameras have also become 15-year-old newspaper article about a involving European citizens and some popular among bands such as The Rolling heads of state.

Spanish man’s bankruptcy.

Stones and Foo Fighters. The company The EU executive has been critical “This week we’re starting to take received an Emmy award in 2013 for its action on removals requests that of several major U.S. web companies, contribution to the television industry. we’ve received,” a Google spokesman such as Facebookand Google, over GoPro sold 8.9 million shares, while the said on Thursday. “This is a new their handling of swathes of personal rest were offered by selling stockholders, process for us. Each request has to data. National governments recently including Woodman and investors be assessed individually and we’re moved towards extending Europe’s Riverwood Capital LP, Taiwanese working as quickly as possible to get strict data protection rules to all electronics contract manufacturer Hon companies, not just European ones. through the queue.”

Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd and Sageview Capital Master LP.

Google removes first search results after EU ruling

U.S. economy collapses in first quarter The U.S. economy contracted at a much steeper pace in the first quarter than previously estimated, turning in one of its worst-ever nonrecession performances, but growth already appears to have rebounded strongly.

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday gross domestic product fell at a 2.9 percent annual rate, the sharpest decline in five years, instead of the 1.0 percent pace it had reported last month.

“It’s a scary report. It sounds worrisome, but keep in mind job growth is running 200,000 each of the last four months, so we aren’t just whistling in the dark in our optimism over the outlook,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in New York.

The economy was held back by an unusually cold winter, the expiration of long-term unemployment benefits and cuts to food stamps, which curbed consumer spending. It was also weighed down by a slowdown in the pace of restocking by businesses.

All these temporary factors have since faded, lifting growth early in the second quarter.

The government’s gauge of firstquarter growth has been lowered by 3.0 percentage points since the first estimate in April showed the economy expanded at a 0.1 percent rate, and revision between the May and June release was the largest on records going back to 1976.

Economists had expected the revision to show the economy shrinking at a rate of only 1.7 percent.

Given the sharp downgrade, growth this year could struggle to reach 2 percent.

Investors shrugged off the weak data and bought U.S. stocks. Prices for U.S. Treasury debt were up at mid-day, while the dollar was marginally weaker against a basket of currencies.

The latest GDP revision reflected a weaker pace of healthcare spending than previously assumed, which led to a cut in the figure for consumer spending to show the slowest rise since the fourth quarter of 2009.

Trade was also a bigger drag on the economy than previously thought.

Apple iPhone ‘kill switch’ cuts thefts Apple’s introduction of a “kill switch” 2014 compared to 2013, while in San use. Apple data suggests that about in its iPhone software last September Francisco they fell by 38%, and in 89% of iPhones and iPads are now using has cut thefts of the phones across the New York by 19%, according to data iOS 7.

The fall in thefts came even as the board, according to data from London, from the New York attorney general’s New York and San Francisco – while “Secure Our Smartphones” initiative, number of iPhones in circulation kept those of other smartphones have following the introduction of the kill rising, as measured by the research switch – officially called “activation lock” companies Kantar and ComScore. In continued to rise.

Now Google and Microsoft are – feature in the iOS 7 mobile software 2013, New York set up a special police working on similar implementations for which lets owners remotely wipe and unit to deal with iPhone thefts - and in June 2013 deputy police commissioner their future software to deter thieves lock their phones if they are stolen.

An iPhone that has been remotely Paul Browne complained that the from stealing and reselling wiped wiped requires the owner’s name overall crime rate in the city had risen smartphones.

Thefts of iPhones in London fell and password to reactivate it, or else by 3%, but would have fallen without by 24% in the first five months of remains encrypted and blocks further iPhone thefts.

But thefts of Samsung devices, which don’t have the same locking option, rose by 51% in New York, the attorney general said. In April, the south Korean company introduced a feature called Reactivation Lock for its top-end phones such as the Galaxy S5.

It requires users to set up an account with Samsung, rather than using the Google account through which owners initially activate their phones. It has to be activated separately, rather than being part of the default setup of the phone, as with iOS 7’s Activation Lock.

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Google Glass go on sale in the UK

Google has finally release its Glass smartglasses for sale in the UK.

Google Glass smartglasses are finally available in the UK for £1,000, two years after they were extravagantly launched by skydivers in the US. The smartglasses have been praised by adherents who describe it as the evolution of wearable computing, while Google co-founder Sergey Brin has called them a way to “free your eyes”, and described smartphones as “emasculating”.

But they have also been the object of privacy objections, ridicule and even muggings in the US. The devices, costing £1,000, are now available for purchase by anyone over 18 years old and with a UK credit card and address.

Google Glass consists of a pair of glasses with a small prism-based translucent screen-mounted above the right eye. It can take pictures or video from a front-facing camera, controlled by a voice command or a swipe on the right-hand armature, and is designed to display at-a-glance information on its screen which is visible only to the user. It runs a variant of Google’s Android mobile software, and relies on a smartphone for its data connectivity.

Google says it offers about a day’s battery life, or 45 minutes’ continuous video recording.

“We know there’s a pent-up demand for Glass, from all over the world,” Ivy Ross, the new head of Glass, told the

NY attorney general accuses Barclays of ‘dark pool’ fraud New York’s attorney general has filed a securities fraud lawsuit against Barclays, accusing the British bank of giving an unfair edge in the United States to high-frequency traders, while claiming to be protecting other clients from them.

News of the lawsuit, which relates to Barclays’ LX Liquidity Cross ‘dark pool’ alternative trading system, drove a 5 percent fall in Barclays shares on Thursday. It also hit shares in Europe’s Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and UBS as traders fretted about the possibility they could also be targeted.

The New York State attorney general’s lawsuit alleges that Barclays promised to get the best possible prices for customers looking to buy or sell shares but instead took steps that maximized the bank’s profits and executed nearly all of its customers’ stock orders on LX instead of on exchanges or other venues

1155 GMT (7.55 a.m. ET) on Thursday, that might have offered better prices.

The action is the highest profile case their lowest level since November 2012 yet to emerge in the U.S. authorities’ and extending their fall this year to efforts to ensure that dealers are not 20 percent. Shares in Deutsche Bank ripping off investors in increasingly were down 2.2 percent, with UBS and Credit Suisse 1.8 and 2.9 percent lower automated stock markets.

These probes have been progressing respectively.

Barclays could suffer a litigation for up to a year, but took on additional urgency in recent months, after best- cost of $163 million from the activities selling author Michael Lewis released and Deutsche Bank and UBS could face the book “Flash Boys: A Wall Street similar costs from an industry wide Revolt” which contends that markets investigation, said analysts at Credit Suisse. They gave no estimate for their were rigged.

Dark pools were originally created own bank.

The lawsuit delivers another blow to allow investors to execute big trades without tipping off the market. But to Chief Executive Antony Jenkins’ ever-larger volumes of trades have been efforts to restore Barclay’s reputation shunted into dark pools and their critics after a series of scandals. He has said say the opacity of the markets may be its culture, criticized as high-risk, highresulting in more and more investors reward, had to change and that systems and controls are improving, but the getting ripped off.

Barclays’ London-listed shares were emergence of past sins are hampering down 5.2 percent at 218.25 pence by his efforts.

Rising debt payments pressure Argentina to solve crisis

Argentina’s debt servicing costs are set to more than double in 2015 as foreign reserves slide to critically low levels, boosting pressure on the nation to resolve its 12-year-old battle with creditors and regain access to international credit markets.

Debt payments in foreign currency will rise to $9.4 billion next year, $6 billion of which is due in October to pay holders of its Boden 2015 debt, according to government data analyzed

by Reuters. Argentina has agreed this year to make payments to the Paris Club, the World Bank and Repsol SA that will cost about $1.5 billion in 2015, according to Bank of America estimates.

That could bring the total bill to $10.8 billion, compared with about $5 billion this year, including payments on the recent agreements.

Foreign reserves, which fell 30 percent last year and stand at eightyear lows of about $29 billion, are seen falling in the second half of 2014 after Argentina’s main farm exports, soy and corn, are harvested and sold in the first half.

“Payments will increase next year and it’s going to be tight to pay,” said Bank

Argentina’s Economy Minister Axel Kicillof (center) gives an address ‘’Sovereign Debt Restructuring: The Case of Argentina’’ next to Sacha Llorenti (left), Chairman of the Group of G77 at United Nations headquarters in New York. of America economist Marcos Buscaglia in New York, who sees reserves falling to $26.7 billion by the end of 2014.

Official data on total debt payments is open to interpretation, economists say, as it includes a medley of inter-publicsector and international loans that are

usually rolled over and therefore would not affect reserves.

Reuters has stripped out most of these loans but not all, such as those held by the pension system for which a clear breakdown of bond holdings in dollars is not readily available.

Guardian. “As we start to branch out we picked the UK first because we think it has a history of embracing technology, design and fashion, and I think there’s a resurgence happening in technology in the UK.” Google says the smartglasses are still in “beta” – prototype –form, despite being openly on sale, and that it wants early adopters to buy and use them and report back problems and suggestions so it can shape the future of the product, which is expected to eventually cost about the same as the average smartphone. However that figure is itself a moving target, expected to fall from around $300 worldwide in 2014 to $260 by 2018 according to IDC. Glass is available with prescription lenses, and there will soon be five swappable frames and eight sunglasses from the Belgian-born Americanfashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg.

Users will be able to resell their Glass smartglasses, just like they could a mobile phone. Currently there are a number of older versions of Glass on sales on the UK eBay auction site, at prices close to £950, shipped from the US.

Second Life will one day work with Facebook’s Oculus Rift VR headset.

Virtual world Second Life to be reincarnated Whatever happened to virtual world Second Life after the flurry of hype and influx of brands in 2005 and 2006? You don’t hear much about it nowadays.

Actually, Second Life never went away; it was the media and brands that once flocked to it who melted away. The world’s existing community of around 1m users carried on with their virtual lives much as they had before.

Second Life’s parent company Linden Lab wasn’t the future of marketing or the next billion-dollar technology acquisition as some suggested, but it did continue evolving into a stable, sustainable business.

Now, in 2014, it has a new chief executive and renewed ambitions to break out of its niche. Ambitions which include launching a completely new version of Second Life, as well as making it work with the nowFacebook-owned Oculus Rift virtual reality headset.

“With technology, market interest, hardware and software available, now is the time to give it another big shot.

We have the experience to do it more than anyone else,” CEO Ebbe Altberg told TheNextWeb, adding that the new version of Second Life will launch in beta form in 2015, then commercially in 2016.

“It’s a massive project to do a new virtual world. To start from the ground up we’re hiring 40-50 more people...

We’re not going to constrain ourselves with backwards compatibility.”

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Online antisocial behaviour complaints ‘becoming a real problem for UK police’

Complaints from the public about abuse, threats or antisocial behaviour on Facebook, Twitter or other social media are becoming a significant part of the daily reports received by frontline police, a senior officer has said.

Ch Con Alex Marshall, the head of the College of Policing, has said that it is becoming a real problem, with as many as half the daily complaints by the public about low-level antisocial behaviour now relating to activity that happens online. He added that soon every police investigation will include an online element.

Marshall has warned that many

police officers are still trying to and they deal with this every day. So in understand the point at which insults a typical day where perhaps they deal on social media become a crime. About with a dozen calls, they might expect 6,000 officers are currently undergoing that at least half of them, whether training by the college in how to deal around antisocial behaviour or abuse or threats of assault, may well be related with online offences.

Marshall told the BBC’s Law in to social media – Facebook, Twitter, or Action programme: “As people have other forms.”

He indicated that many of the moved their shopping online, they’ve also moved their insults, their abuse complaints police received related to and their threats online, so I see that it very low-level behaviour, which might won’t be long before pretty much every include somebody being “unfriended” investigation that the police conduct on Facebook, and he acknowledged that frontline officers could not deal with will have an online element to it.

“It’s a real problem for people “every bit of nonsense and disagreement” working on the frontline of policing, that happens on social media.

“People throughout history have shouted abuse at each other and had disagreements and arguments and possibly said things that they regret later, and the police have never investigated every disagreement between everyone.

“So we have to be careful here that there’s a line that needs to be drawn, and if something is serious and it’s a crime and someone is genuinely threatened or in the case of domestic abuse – maybe they’re being coerced and treated deliberately in this way as a sort of punishment by a partner – that’s a serious issue that we need to take on.”

YouTube’s proposed music contract with labels now online

YouTube’s row with some independent labels over the terms of the contract for its upcoming music subscription service has taken a new twist, with a version of the contract published in full online.

Music industry site Digital Music News obtained a leaked version of the contract and published all 32 pages, with any legal hesitations not reflected in its headline: F*&K It: Here’s the Entire YouTube Contract for Indies…

The leak was wider and carefully targeted. Music industry site Billboard also obtained a copy of the contract, publishing its analysis – although not the actual document – late last week. The Guardian has also seen a copy of the contract.

Independent labels trade body WIN has accused YouTube of trying to force its members to sign the contract with threats that their videos will be blocked on its free service if they do not. The contract’s publication sheds more light on the terms at the heart of this dispute.

The most controversial clause concerns the ability of major labels to influence the rate of royalties paid to independents:

LG’s G Watch and other Android Wear devices require a compatible smartphone to work.

Google reveals first Android Wear watches to go on sale YouTube is negotiating with labels for its upcoming subscription music service.

“To the extent that any major label agrees to any rates for the Google Services that are lower than the rates set forth in Exhibits C or D, including with respect to bundling, Google will have the right to reduce Provider’s analogous rates accordingly, following thirty (30) days written notice (via email will be sufficient) to Provider.”

Independent labels are worried about this due to the potential for major labels to accept lower royalty rates for streams of songs, in exchange for advances – upfront payments. This clause suggests that indies could then be forced

down to the lower per-stream rates without getting the advances.

Another clause provoking debate concerns “Catalogue Commitment and Monetization”: YouTube wants labels to make their entire catalogues available to stream on both its premium and free services – videos and audio recordings alike – while setting them all to have ads shown in and around them. That would be problematic for artists who want to withhold their music from YouTube, as some have done from streaming service Spotify.

Google has announced the first smartwatches powered by its Android Wear operating system are now available for pre-order.

The LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live – both featuring rectangular screens – mark an attempt to standardise the way Android wearable devices function.

Google said that Motorola’s circular Moto 360 would not be released until “later this summer”.

Analysts say the move to a unified approach could drive sales.

“The problem with smartwatches so far has been that the sector hasn’t quite decided what it wants to be – is it a phone on your wrist or an accessory device,” Steffen Sorrell, from the Juniper Research consultancy, told the BBC. “Once you introduce Android Wear, it will hopefully provide a more focused case for what the devices are capable of. And that’s a direction that could invigorate the market.”

Supreme Court: Police need warrants for cellphone searches

SAN FRANCISCO – Police must get a search warrant before examining the contents of cellphones they seize from people they arrest, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, invoking Americans’ right to modest privacy protections in the troves of personal information stored in the compact devices.

“Modern cellphones are not just another technological convenience,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in the unanimous decision.

“With all they contain and all they may reveal, they hold for many Americans the privacies of life.”

Civil liberties advocates, often critical of the current court, celebrated

a rare victory.

“We have entered a new world but, as the court today recognized, our old values still apply and limit the government’s ability to rummage through the intimate details of our private lives,” said Steven Shapiro, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ruling in two consolidated cases, one of them from California, doesn’t make the phones off-limits to arresting officers, but requires them to first persuade a judge that the devices are likely to contain evidence of wrongdoing.

While awaiting a warrant, the court said, police could confiscate an

arrestee’s cell phone and take steps, like disconnecting or sealing it, to prevent accomplices from electronically erasing incriminating evidence.

The ruling effectively overturns a 2011 decision by the California Supreme Court that allowed police in the state to search cell phones without a warrant.

Legislation that would have reversed that decision and required search warrants was opposed by police groups and vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown, who said it was an issue for the courts, not the Legislature.

State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, author of the vetoed bill, said Wednesday’s 9-0 ruling was consistent

with the bipartisan support lawmakers gave to his measure, now the law of the land.

He said police would need a warrant before searching “sensitive and extremely personal information” in someone’s desk drawer or laptop computer, and should follow the same safeguards with mobile phones.

Brown’s office declined to comment.

Nick Pacilio, spokesman for Attorney General Kamala Harris, whose office argued in support of warrantless searches, said Harris recognizes that “the court has now struck a new balance for digital information kept on cell phones” and will work with police to implement the decision.

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Work in progress of the painting of the basketball court in Wheeland.

Wheeland MP, citizens repair basketball court

On Saturday, June 21st, 2014, Wheeland’s MP, Hon Vaden Delroy Williams together with residents of Wheeland embarked on the Wheeland Refurbishment Basketball Project.

Hon Williams and residents of all ages cleaned the immediate area and painted the surface of the Court.

This Event brought residents together in true community spirit that still exists strongly in the area.

“This is phase one of the Project. On Saturday, June 28th 2014 at 6am, we will complete the Project by painting the other half of the Court and erecting the rims. The vision is eventually to fence in the area, erect bleachers, hold Basketball Tournaments and other community events there.

I want to thank those who made donations. Our corporate sponsors: Gordon’s Supply, Conservative Architects and TCI Paint for the paint supply and The Amanyara Resort for the rims and the residents who donated their time and talents. I wish to also extend an Invitation to others to come out on Saturday as we continue.”

The Wheeland MP continued “This is our Court.

It belongs to all of us and we want to ensure that our children have a safe place to play especially during the long summer.”

Hon Williams received support from his Parliamentary colleagues and could be seen shooting hoops in a short challenge between himself and his Blue Hills MP colleague Hon Goldray Ewing.

Police crush Quality Super Kings

Man of the match the Police’s Chabbie Charley accepts his man of the match prize from a cricket fan.

The Turks and Caicos Cricket Association 2014 Cricket Season continued on Sunday 22st June 2014 at The Downtown Ball Park Providenciales with The Police Humiliating Quality Super Kings.

Police won the toss and elected to bat and then chalk up 206 runs for eight wickets from their allotted 20 overs. Chabbie Charlery top scored with a pugnacious 65 runs, which was decorated with four 4s and eight 6s. Garvin Bruno chipped in 25 runs.

Bowling for Quality Kings, Ebbon Caesar took 2 wickets for 15 runs from two overs and Damain ST Ange had two wickets for 36 runs from four overs In reply Quality Super Kings were Skittle out for paltry 66 runs from 11.4 overs. Top Scorer was Damian St, Ange with 15 runs..

Bowling for Police, Chabbie Charley captured four wickets for 16 runs from four overs and Hayden Spring claimed two wickets for nine runs from three overs. Chabbie Charley was named Man of the Match. (Michael Pereira)

Blue Hills MP Hon Goldray Ewing showing his skills during Wheeland’s Basketball Refurbishment Project.

Beaches staffs drop 48lbs for fitness competition Beaches Turks & Caicos crowned its 4th annual Fit to Serve fitness competition winner recently when the resort hosted a mid-afternoon cocktail session celebrating the weight loss success of three of its employees.

The resort had once again joined forces with the Graceway Sports Centre to launch the bi-annual fitness challenge geared towards empowering, encouraging and inspiring employees to get fit and lead a healthy lifestyle.

This year’s competition saw three employees who went head-to-head for the title. Top prize went to Airport Representative, Waynette Hendfield who beat out two tough competitors by shedding an astonishing 22 lbs. during the competition. Housekeeping Room Attendant Stacie Roxbourogh-Virgo was crowned first runner up for her 19lbs weight loss, while Bartender Shandira Rigby took third prize.

Waynette Hendfield explained that the motivation behind joining this fitness challenge was to gain control of her weight. “I have been trying to lose this weight for a long time” said, Waynette, “This competition has given me an extra dose of self-confidence and the push I need I start the journey to a creating a better me.”

The goal of the fitness challenge is to motivate employees to eat well and be more active while learning important healthy habits that can be applied to their everyday lives. Adina Ciurar of Graceway Sports Centre who partnered with the resort in designing a workout program and also worked closely with the competitors, also commented “Consistency and Discipline was the key to this fitness challenge,” she continued, “We are offered our professional assistance by providing a fitness assessment for the individuals, as well as a personal trainer to help monitor their eating and maintain a regular workout schedule.”

Don Dagenais, General Manager of the resort is delighted by the initiative these three team members have taken. In response to the positive turn-out for the challenge he said, “We are very proud of the three Team Members success throughout the competition,” He continued, “Leading a healthy lifestyle is not only for the work environment but it is a life time commitment, I applaud these ladies for taking the first step towards becoming better and healthier individuals.”

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CARIBBEAN

SPORTS

Jamaican veterans’ chance to shine at Senior Trials

THE JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships that will be used to select teams for three competitions, including the Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, gets underway this morning with the first round of the men’s 100m at the National Stadium at 10:00.

In addition to the Commonwealth Games, athletes will also be vying for places on teams to the first Pan-American Senior Championships in Mexico as well as the NACAC Under-23 in Canada.

One final, the men’s javelin,

will be contested during the afternoon session today, while there will be heats in the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles, the first round of the women’s 100m and the second round of the men’s 100m.

The top eight from the morning’s heats will join 24 others in the quarter-finals set for later in the day.

Despite the absence of superstar sprinters, triple world record holder Usain Bolt, former World Championships 100m winner Yohan Blake and World and Olympic sprint champion

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the four-day event is still expected to be competitive with a number of rising stars down to stake claims for places on the various teams.

Bolt and Blake have not made themselves available for selection, while Fraser-Pryce, who has been nursing suspected shin splints, has asked to be considered for the relay team only in Glasgow.

The absence of the mega stars will, however, open doors for a number of veterans as well as upand-coming youngsters to stake a claim for their moment in the spotlight.

WICB and Guyana Government find consensus

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – A West Indies Cricket Board delegation has concluded a series of high level meetings with various stakeholders in Guyana.

The meetings took place on June 23 and 24.

The WICB delegation met with representatives of the Government of Guyana, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) in separate meetings.

The WICB delegation included Vice President Emmanuel Nanthan, Director Anand Sanasie, Legal Officer Alanna Medford and WICB external counsel Walter Scott QC and Roysdale Forde.

The objective of the meetings was for the WICB to raise its concerns with the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill which had been passed in the National Assembly on May 15.

Further the WICB delegation sought to discuss with the various parties the best way, in light of the issues created by the passage of the Bill, to take the matter forward so as not to unduly affect cricket in Guyana, particularly since the Bill has not yet been assented into law by His Excellency President Donald Ramotar.

The WICB is pleased to report that the tone and content of all the meetings were generally positive, with all parties recognising the reason for concern Olympics six years ago. on the part of WICB and the need for certain areas “I knew I had a quality field of the Bill to be addressed. to deal with, people like Rondel Over the course of the meetings, the parties for Sorrillo, Darrel Brown, Keston the most part agreed on the issues in the Bill which Bledman, Marc Burns, the usual need to be revised. Another central focus of the suspects.” discussions was the best way to achieve a solution Thompson’s time reiterated which would be in the interest of all parties. his form this season. Earlier this It was agreed that the WICB would prepare a month, he clocked 9.95 seconds at Memorandum of Agreement which would be signed the IAAF World Challenge Meeting by the Government of Guyana, the WICB and the in Hengelo and then followed GCB. The MOA would identify those areas of the up with victory in the Diamond Bill which the parties agreed need revision and set League, speeding to 10.02 seconds out the revisions to be made. The MOA would also at the Bislett Games in Norway. prescribe a strict timeline to be followed for the Late last month, Thompson implementation of the revisions. clocked 9.74 seconds to win at the The parties hope that this solution can be agreed National Training Centre/Pure and implemented within the next week.

Athletics Last Chance Meet, in Vice President Nanthan commented: “The Florida. The time, however, was WICB thanks the Government – particularly the not ratified because the wind was Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and Attorney above the legal limit.

General Anil Nandlall – and the opposition parties.

Thompson’s time on Saturday WICB is positive that we are on a path that can eclipsed the previous worldhelp in the process and look forward to the next leading mark of 9.86 set by in-form few weeks as we continue our negotiations with American Justin Gatlin in Ostrava positive anticipation”. last than a week ago.

Thompson eclipses Gatlin’s 100m time at championships PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Resurgent sprinter Richard Thompson smashed the Trinidad and Tobago national record as he streaked to a world-leading 9.82 seconds at the National Championships last weekend.

The Olympic medallist, who has been in incredible form this season, dismissed challenges from defending champion Keston Bledman who was second in ten seconds flat, and former World junior champion Darrel Brown who was third in 10.05 seconds.

Marc Burns was fourth in 10.21 while Rondel Sorrillo finished fifth in 10.23.

The previous national record of 9.85 seconds was set by Thompson three years ago.

Thompson told the Trinidad Express newspaper the national record had not been his focus entering the race.

“I’m thrilled with the

Richard Thompson performance. I didn’t come in chasing any time. The national record was the furthest thing from my mind,” said the 29-year-old who as good enough to land bronze in the 100 metres at the Beijing

Top swimmers to represent Bahamas in Glasgow

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace

When the Bahamas Olympic team. Loveitt coached both Tynes Committee ratifies the team for and Evans when they represented the Commonwealth Games next the Bahamas at the World Junior month in Glasgow, Scotland, the Swimming Championships in Bahamas Swimming Federation Dubai last year.

“That team has not yet been is hoping to have five swimmers ratified by the BOC, but we expect included.

The federation has submitted that full team to be participating the names of Arianna Vanderpool- in the Commonwelth Games this Wallace, Vereance Burrows, Ariel summer,” said BSF president Weech, Joanna Evans and Dustin Algernon Cargill, a former vice Tynes, all of whom have surpassed president of the BOC. All five swimmers were in the qualifying standards in their respective events, as prescribed action over the weekend at

by FINA, the governing body for the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex as the federation the sport.

Andy Loveitt, a coach with hosted its 2014 Royal Bank of the Swift Swimming and one of Canada National Swimming Vanderpool-Wallace’s personal Championships.

Vanderpool-Wallace led the coaches, will be accompanying the

way as she, Evans and Tynes competed for Swift Swimming, who dominated the championships for the fourth consecutive year, winning by almost 1,000 points ahead of arch-rival Barracuda.

Burrows competed for the Freeport Aquatic, while Weech represented Alpha Aquatics.

In the three events she competed in, Vanderpool-Wallace established national records in winning the girls 15-and-over 100 metre butterfly in one minute and 02.48 seconds, the 50m butterfly in 26.71 and the 50m freestyle in 25.40. She also emerged as the sixth highest scorer in the individual standings in her category with 36 points.

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SPORTS

New ICC chairman protests innocence in India corruption case

Narayanaswami Srinivasan marked his controversial ascent to the chairmanship of the International Cricket Council by protesting his innocence of any wrongdoing in the ongoing corruption case in India.

Srinivasan stood aside as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India earlier this year, having been compelled to do so by the country’s supreme court during its match-fixing investigation into the Indian Premier League.

But on Thursday, having already been nominated as the governing body’s first all-powerful chairman at an executive board meeting in February, he was unanimously voted into the role by the 52-member full council at the ICC annual conference.

His so-called “big three” counterparts – Cricket Australia’s chairman, Wally Edwards, and the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, Giles Clarke – will lead the newly formed executive committee and the financial and commercial affairs committee, respectively.

Plans to reorganise the distribution of ICC profits, which promise greater overall income but also a greater proportion of funds diluted into the coffers of India, Australia and England, will now go ahead.

Critics, who are thick on the ground, have characterised the constitutional shift as a self-interested power grab by the three boards but it is Srinivasan’s

Woods feels ‘great’ in Congressional tune-up

Tiger Woods said he felt “great” after playing the Quicken Loans National Pro-Am last Wednesday at Congressional Country Club following a three-month absence.

“Which is a really good sign,” the former long-time world number one added about his comeback after surgery to repair a pinched nerve in his back.

Woods was a bit rusty in the Pro-Am, making one birdie and a single bogey, but the winner of 79 PGA Tour events, including 14 major championships, was basically pleased.

“Generally it feels good,” said Woods, who on said he felt more pain-free than he had in two years. “I hit some loose shots today but I also hit some really good ones.”

Woods, host of the Quicken Loans tournament which benefits his charity foundation, said Congressional was no easy test.

“This golf course is playing tough,” Woods said of the site of the 2011 U.S. Open. “The guys aren’t going to go really low here.”

Narayanaswami Srinivasan has been elected as ICC president despite being suspended by India’s Supreme Court as the head of the BCCI. elevation to the top job that has proved the real lightning rod for indignation.

As the owner of the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings, he has been investigated as part of a spot-fixing inquiry that has already laid charges against Srinivasan’s son-in-law,

Gurunath Meiyappan.

Srinivasan attempted to use the occasion of his appointment as a chance to lay out an agenda for inclusivity and growth in the world game but ended up making a staunch personal defence of his own character.

IAAF will not appeal Gay’s one-year doping ban The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will not appeal the one-year ban handed down to Tyson Gay for doping which has put the United States’s secondplace finish in the 4x100 meters relay at the 2012 London Olympics in jeopardy.

Gay, the world’s joint second fastest man, was banned for one year following a 2013 positive test for an anabolic steroid and stripped of all results from July 2012.

The 31-year-old was banned by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) subject to appeal by the IAAF or the World Anti-Doping Agency.

“After careful review of the full file provided by USADA, the IAAF has decided that the one-year sanction applied in the case of Tyson Gay was appropriate under the circumstances and in accordance with IAAF Rules,” it said in a statement to Reuters on Thursday.

“Consequently, the IAAF decided not to exercise its right of appeal.

The IAAF will not make further comments on the content and merits of the assistance provided by the athlete.”

The IAAF has published the sanction and sent it to the IOC in order for them to follow-up with the Olympic Games result and medals.

Although IAAF rules state that all relay members lose their medals from a competition if there is a doping violation, the IOC has control of the medals for the Olympics and it has not always taken medals from all relay members.

Gay has already returned his silver medal to the United States Olympic Committee, but still to be determined is whether his team mates Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin and Ryan Baileyn as well as Jeff Demps and Doc Patton, who ran in the preliminary rounds, will lose their medals.

“The [supreme court] committee made a report, which did not involve me, but they had been given a sealed envelope in which they said there were some unsubstantiated, unverified allegations made by some people, which the court is looking into. I said I’ll voluntarily step aside [as BCCI president] during that period.

“Now, as far as I’m concerned, I have done nothing wrong. There is no wrongdoing on my part and therefore my conscience is very clear that there is no taint on me. My son-in-law, there are some charges against him. He has to defend himself in court. It’s a question of it’s going to be proved or not proved but that’s up to him.

“I think you have to wait until everything is clear at the end of the day. If nothing is proved, I think all this comment would have been unfair.”

The BCCI’s secretary, Sanjay Patel, heralded Srinivasan’s appointment and lauded him as the ideal candidate to take charge for the two-year period up to 2016.

“As India takes the leadership position in world cricket, the responsibility of guiding the game in these challenging times could not have found a better leader than Mr Srinivasan,” said Patel.

The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations, which took a hard-line stance to the proposals when they emerged in February, were not available for comment.

Luis Suárez

Luis Suárez banned for biting

Fifa’s independent disciplinary committee have banned Luis Suárez from all football-related activity for four months after he was seen biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini. The decision means Suárez, who has also been fined £66,000, will miss the rest of the World Cup, pending an appeal. He is banned from Uruguay’s next nine international matches, and from entering any stadium during this period.

Speaking before the verdict was announced, Suárez’s lawyer, Alejandro Balbi, claimed there was a European campaign against the Liverpool striker being led by England and Italy, while Uruguay’s FA suggested that pictures of teeth-marks on Chiellini’s shoulder were digitally altered.

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WORLD SPORTS

Ghana’s Muntari and Boateng sent home from WC

Sulley Muntari, the AC Milan’s midfielder, and Schalke midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng have both had their World Cup accreditation withdrawn, the Ghana FA (GFA) announced.

The squad has been a state of rebellion over unpaid appearance fee and Muntari is reported to have slapped a senior GFA official during a heated meeting.

Boateng “verbally abused” coach Kwesi Appiah, said the GFA. A statement from the association said: “The GFA has suspended Sulley Ali Muntari indefinitely from the Black Stars with immediate effect.

“The decision was taken in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an

executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr Moses Armah on Tuesday 24 June, 2014 during a meeting.

“The GFA has approved coach Kwesi Appiah’s decision to suspend KevinPrince Boateng indefinitely from the Black Stars.

“The decision was taken following Boateng’s vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah during the team’s training session in Maceio this week.

“Boateng has since showed no remorse for his actions which has resulted in the decision.”

The statement said both Muntari and Boateng’s accreditation for the Los Angeles Kings’ Marian Gaborik celebrates with the Stanley Cup after the Kings’ defeated the New World Cup has been withdrawn “with York Rangers in Game 5 of their NHL Stanley Cup Finals hockey series in Los Angeles, California. immediate effect”.

Michelle Wie’s major wait is finally over as she lands US Open It seems somehow poetic that Michelle Wie’s finest golfing moment arrived at the conclusion of an event which had an 11-year-old participant.

Wie was once the childhood star of women’s golf. And some. With the Nike contract and robotic, monotone speaking style, comparisons with Tiger Woods were inevitable. Apart from one glaring aspect; Woods always knew how to win.

So now does Wie. Her success in the US Women’s Open on Sunday finally delivered on potential which has been evident since she shot to prominence at the age of 10. By 16, she had endorsement contracts worth a reported $10m-a-year alongside power and ball-striking ability which set her way apart from her peers.

In relative terms, Wie’s career has hardly been a total disaster during the intervening years. She had won three times on tour before Sunday and had secured top-five major finishes.

Nonetheless, until her triumph at Pinehurst No2 there had been a clear disparity between profile and tangible reward.

“I never stopped working hard,” said the 24-year-old. “And no matter how hard I worked, there was a point where I just wasn’t getting any better.”

A player who once had aspirations of competing on level terms against male professionals instead had to regularly rely on sponsor exemptions to enter tournaments. There was injury, as well as loss of form. “I think it just means so much more to me,” Wie explained.

Michelle Wie grasps the trophy after her victory in the 69th US Women’s Open at Pinehurst No2.

“I think life is just so ironic. I think that without your downs, without the hardships, I don’t think you appreciate the ups as much as you do.

“I think the fact that I struggled so much, the fact that I kind of went through a hard period of my life, the fact that this trophy is right next to me, it means so much more to me than it ever would have when I was 15.

“Obviously, I still remember that time. I would try to drive the 1st hole. I learned not to do that at the US Open on the 1st hole. I learned a lot. But I think life is just so ironic like that. I am just so grateful for that, just because of everything I’ve been through. I feel

extremely lucky.

“I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to just really stay in the present and really try not to control everything. I think when, growing up, I was kind of a control freak. I just wanted to control everything; to have the perfect swing, have the perfect putting stroke.

And if something wasn’t perfect, then I would start to freak out. I think over the years I started to learn that you can’t be perfect.”

Mature sentiment. Wie has clearly grown up, rendering her a far more engaging character than was earlier the case. Which was not entirely her own fault, it must be noted.

Kings sign Gaborik to seven-year contract Marian Gaborik, who played a key role in the Los Angeles Kings’ Stanley Cup triumph earlier this month, agreed to terms on a new sevenyear contract, the National Hockey League team said on Wednesday.

Financial terms of the contract for the unrestricted free agent forward were not disclosed by the Kings but local media reports said the deal is worth $34.1 million.

The 32-year-old Slovakian forward scored a league-leading 14 goals during the 2014 playoffs, leaving him one shy of the franchise’s playoff year record set in 1993 by Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky.

Gaborik, traded to Los Angeles from Columbus in April, missed 39 games last season due to injuries and finished the regular season with 11 goals and 19 assists.

He picked up his game in the postseason, collecting three goals and five points in the first round when the Kings rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to beat San Jose in seven games.

Gaborik led all players with six goals and 10 points in a sevengame, second-round series victory over Anaheim, including the tying and winning goals in Game One. He added another three goals and four points in a seven-game series win over Chicago in the Western Conference Finals, with his goal late in the third period of Game 7 forcing overtime.

In the Stanley Cup Final, Gaborik twice scored game-tying, third-period goals versus the New York Rangers with both goals leading to overtime victories for the Kings.

LeBron opts out of Heat contract, now a free agent LeBron James told the Miami Heat that he will exercise an early termination option in his contract and become an unrestricted free agent in a move the team said was “fully expected.”

Opting out of the final two years of his contract does not necessarily mean the four-time league Most Valuable Player is leaving the star-studded Heat team he led to NBA championships in 2012 and 2013.

“We fully expected LeBron to opt-out and exercise his free agent rights, so this does not come as a surprise,” Heat

President Pat Riley, who said he was other options besides negotiating a new informed of James’s decision earlier on deal with the Heat team he led to four successive NBA Finals appearances Tuesday, said in a statement.

“We look forward to sitting down since joining them as a free agent with LeBron and his representatives in 2010 after seven seasons with the and talking about our future together.” Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Being able to have flexibility as a James, who was due to earn $20 million next season, had until June 30 professional, anyone, that’s what we to decide whether to head back to free all would like,” James said last week.

“That’s in any sport, for a football agency.

By joining the free agent pool that player, a baseball player, a basketball is open for business starting July 1, player, to have flexibility and be able James created a level of intrigue over to control your future or your present.”

James’s wife, Savannah, caused his future plans.

The decision allows James to explore a stir on Sunday when she posted

an Instagram photo of a map of Ohio with “Akron” written across it and a star indicating the couple’s hometown location.

“Home sweet home!! The countdown is real! #330” read the caption, referencing the telephone area code of the James’s Akron home where they spend summers, leading some Cavaliers fans to envision a return to the Cleveland hardcourt by James.

The James family later said they were just excited about getting back home after another grueling NBA campaign.

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JUNE 28TH - JULY 5TH, 2014